When you sign up for a grass cutting service, the first question is usually: weekly or bi-weekly? The answer depends on your lawn, how it looks to you, and how much growth it puts on in an Ottawa spring.
How the two compare
| Weekly | Bi-weekly | |
|---|---|---|
| Visits per season | About 26–28 | About 13–14 |
| Lawn height between cuts | Consistent | Noticeably longer by week two |
| Lawn health | Best: follows the one-third rule | Can stress grass in May–June |
| Clippings | Fine, disappear into the lawn | Heavier, may clump |
| Best for | Most lawns, sunny lots, anyone selling or hosting | Small or shaded lawns, slow-growing years |
Why weekly is better for most Ottawa lawns
From mid-May to the end of June, a healthy Ottawa lawn can grow more than an inch a week. On a bi-weekly schedule, that means either cutting off too much at once, which yellows and weakens the grass, or leaving it longer than you'd like.
Weekly cutting keeps each cut small. Fine clippings fall back into the lawn and break down quickly, returning nutrients to the soil. Over a season, that makes a visibly thicker, greener lawn that holds up better against weeds.
Weekly is the right choice if:
- Your lawn gets full sun for most of the day
- You want a consistently sharp look (for example if you're selling, hosting, or just like it tidy)
- Your lawn has been fertilized and grows quickly
- You have a larger lot in Kanata, Stittsville, or Orléans where overgrowth is very noticeable
When bi-weekly makes sense
Bi-weekly mowing can work well if:
- Your lawn is small or heavily shaded by mature trees, as in many older Nepean and Alta Vista streets
- Growth slows in a hot, dry July and August
- You're comfortable with a slightly longer lawn between visits
- Budget is the main concern
A practical middle ground many homeowners like: weekly in May, June, and September, bi-weekly in mid-summer. Ask us about adjusting your plan through the season.
What about cost?
Bi-weekly plans cost less per season simply because there are fewer visits. But a lawn that has grown for two weeks takes longer to cut and clean up, and very overgrown lawns can be charged at a higher rate. Once you factor that in, the difference is often smaller than it looks. See current grass cutting plans and pricing.
The bottom line
If you're unsure, start weekly. It's the safest choice for lawn health during the spring surge, and you can always switch to bi-weekly when growth slows. Not sure about timing? Read how often you should cut your grass in Ottawa.
AV Group offers weekly, bi-weekly, and one-time grass cutting in Ottawa, including weekly lawn mowing in Kanata and our grass cutting service in Barrhaven.