Which warm-season turfgrass in Florida typically requires the highest mowing height, and what is that range?

• A. St. Augustinegrass; 3–4 inches.
• B. Zoysia; 1–2 inches.
• C. Bermuda; 0.5–1.5 inches.
• D. Centipede; 2–3 inches.

Answer: (A)

Understanding mowing height for warm-season grasses shows how growth habit and environment influence what you should cut. St. Augustinegrass has a broader, coarser leaf and a spreading growth habit that benefits from a taller canopy. Keeping it at about 3 to 4 inches helps maintain dense, healthy leaf tissue to shade the soil, reduce stress from heat and drought, and minimize blade damage from traffic through Florida’s hot months. In contrast, the other grasses shown are maintained at lower heights because their growth forms are finer or more aggressive: Bermuda is kept very short to maintain its dense, fast-growing turf; Zoysia is also kept relatively low for a tight, carpet-like stand; and Centipede sits in between but is typically not managed as high as St. Augustine. So, the grass that normally requires the highest mowing height is St. Augustinegrass, around 3 to 4 inches.