"Powell recommends a mowing height of two to two and one-half inches for Kentucky bluegrass, tall fescue and creeping red fescue; one to two inches for perennial ryegrass; one-half to one inch for Bermuda grass, and three-fourths to one inch for Zoysia grass."

While personal preference does factor in, the proper cutting height range for a specific lawn will depend upon several factors, including the type of grass, the amount of rainfall, the prevailing temperature, and the lawn's overall condition.

Cutting it too short causes weak, thin grass plants, which are easily damaged by dry periods and pests. Allowing the grass to get too high can cause thin turf and its own set of problems.

A good rule of thumb to follow is to mow the grass when it is between three and five inches high. If it's a choice between letting the grass get a little longer and keeping it short, opt for longer.

If you're like me and occasionally let the grass get extremely high, when you do mow it's best to set the cutting deck higher for the first pass, then set it to the desired high and mow a second time. Best to not let clippings build up either. Use some type of grass collection device if possible.