Best Lawn Mowers for Thick St. Augustine and Bermuda Grass
The best mowers for thick St. Augustine and Bermuda grass: rotary vs reel, the right cutting heights, and top picks for each.
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The short answer
Thick warm-season grasses need different mowers. St. Augustine is mowed tall (about 3.5–4 inches for standard varieties like Floratam), so you want a powerful rotary mower with a high top cutting height, such as the EGO Power+ LM2156SP or Toro 60V Recycler 22″. Hybrid Bermuda looks best cut low (about 0.5–1.5 inches), which takes a reel mower like the McLane 20″ gas reel. Common Bermuda at 1–2 inches can be cut well with either.
Recommended mowing heights
| Grass | Typical varieties | Mowing height | Mower type |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Augustine (standard) | Floratam, BitterBlue | 3.5–4 in | Rotary |
| St. Augustine (Palmetto, CitraBlue) | Palmetto, CitraBlue | About 2.5–4 in | Rotary |
| St. Augustine (dwarf) | Seville, Sapphire, Captiva | 2–2.5 in | Rotary |
| Common Bermuda | Common | 1–2 in | Rotary or reel |
| Hybrid Bermuda | Celebration, TifTuf, Tifway 419 | 0.5–1.5 in | Reel preferred |
Heights from University of Florida–based turf guidance. Never remove more than one-third of the blade in a single mowing.
Our picks at a glance
| Pick | Model | Type | Best grass | Best for | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best for St. Augustine (battery) | EGO Power+ LM2156SP | 21″ rotary, self-propelled, 56V | St. Augustine, common Bermuda | Up to about 1/2 acre | Check price |
| Best wide-deck walk-behind | Toro 60V Recycler 22″ (21466) | 22″ rotary, Personal Pace | St. Augustine, common Bermuda | Larger suburban lawns | Check price |
| Premium battery rotary | Honda HRN-BV 21″ (HRN216YXBVKA4) | 21″ rotary, battery | St. Augustine, Bermuda | Owners who want Honda build quality | Check price |
| Best for hybrid Bermuda | McLane 20″ gas reel (7-blade) | Powered reel | Hybrid Bermuda, fine zoysia | Low, golf-style cuts | Check price |
| Best budget reel | Fiskars 18″ StaySharp Max | Manual reel | Common/hybrid Bermuda | Small, flat lawns | Check price |
| Best for big lawns | Husqvarna Z254F | 54″ zero-turn | St. Augustine, common Bermuda | 1–3 acres | Check price |
How we picked
We compared turfgrass guidance from university extension sources, manufacturer specifications, owner reviews and published reviews. For St. Augustine we prioritized a high maximum cutting height, strong motors that don’t bog down in dense, wet stolons, and mulching ability. For Bermuda we prioritized low, clean cuts, which is where reel mowers shine.
Why St. Augustine and Bermuda are hard on mowers
St. Augustine has thick, coarse blades and runs on above-ground stolons. Cut too short and you scalp the runners, invite chinch bugs and weeds, and thin the lawn. It also grows fast in summer heat and rain, so a weak mower bogs down, clogs and leaves clumps. Bermuda is the opposite problem: it’s fine-bladed and thrives when cut low and often. A rotary mower set at its lowest notch tends to tear rather than slice Bermuda and can scalp uneven ground, which is why serious Bermuda lawns use reel mowers.
1. EGO Power+ LM2156SP — Best for St. Augustine
EGO’s 21-inch Select Cut self-propelled mower is widely recommended for thick Southern lawns. Select Cut uses a stacked blade system meant to cut and mulch dense grass more finely, and the kit includes a 56V 10.0Ah battery with a fast charger. Self-propel with Touch Drive helps on the heavy, wet St. Augustine of a Florida or Texas summer.
Good to know: confirm the top cutting height in the listing meets your target (Floratam is best at 3.5–4 inches). Thick summer growth drains batteries faster than spec-sheet runtimes.
Choose it if: you have up to about a half-acre of St. Augustine and want gas-like power with no fuel or oil.
Check the EGO LM2156SP on Amazon →
2. Toro 60V Recycler 22″ (21466) — Best wide-deck walk-behind
Toro’s Recycler line is known for mulching, which matters with St. Augustine because returning finely cut clippings feeds the lawn without leaving clumps on top of the dense canopy. The 22-inch deck covers more ground per pass than 21-inch mowers, and Personal Pace self-propel adjusts to your walking speed.
Good to know: check whether the listing includes a battery and charger; some versions are bare tool.
Check the Toro 60V Recycler 22″ on Amazon →
3. Honda HRN-BV 21″ — Premium battery rotary
Honda’s HRN has long been a favorite among homeowners with dense lawns, and the battery version brings that platform to cordless. It’s a good fit if you want a premium walk-behind and already trust Honda.
Good to know: check the current listing for battery capacity and cutting height range before buying.
Check the Honda HRN-BV on Amazon →
4. McLane 20″ gas reel mower — Best for hybrid Bermuda
If you’ve installed TifTuf, Celebration or Tifway and want that tight, striped, golf-course look, you need a powered reel. McLane’s 20-inch reel mowers are a long-standing choice for home Bermuda enthusiasts; this version has a 7-blade reel, grooved front roller and a Briggs & Stratton engine. Reels cut with a scissor action, which leaves cleaner tips and less browning than a rotary at low heights.
Good to know: reel mowers need a level lawn to cut low without scalping, and the reel and bedknife need periodic sharpening (backlapping). They can’t cut grass that has been allowed to grow tall, so mow often in summer.
Check the McLane 20″ reel on Amazon →
5. Fiskars 18″ StaySharp Max — Best budget reel
For a small, flat Bermuda lawn, a manual reel is quiet, cheap to own, and gives a cleaner cut than a rotary. The StaySharp Max is one of the most popular push reels, designed so the blades don’t touch the cutting bar, which reduces drag and sharpening.
Good to know: manual reels struggle with St. Augustine and with any grass that’s gotten long. Keep this for Bermuda or zoysia mowed frequently.
Check the Fiskars StaySharp Max on Amazon →
6. Husqvarna Z254F — Best for big lawns
On an acre or more of St. Augustine or common Bermuda, a zero-turn saves hours. The Z254F pairs a 54-inch deck with a Kawasaki FR730 V-twin, enough power to keep blade speed up in dense summer growth.
Good to know: zero-turns can scalp uneven St. Augustine at low settings; keep the deck high. Upgrading to mulching blades like the Oregon Gator G3 (check fit for your deck) can help with clippings.
Check the Husqvarna Z254F on Amazon →
Mowing tips for thick Southern grass
- Mow often in peak season. St. Augustine may need weekly mowing in summer; hybrid Bermuda kept low may need it two or three times a week.
- Keep blades sharp. Dull blades shred St. Augustine tips, which turn brown and invite disease. Sharpen rotary blades at least once or twice per season.
- Mow dry grass. Wet St. Augustine clumps and clogs decks.
- Mulch, don’t bag, unless you have disease or a thatch problem.
- Raise the height in shade and drought. Stressed St. Augustine recovers better when left taller.
Buying checklist
- Maximum cutting height of at least 4 inches for standard St. Augustine.
- Self-propel for dense grass and anything larger than a small lot.
- A deck and blade designed for mulching.
- For hybrid Bermuda under 1 inch: a reel mower and a level lawn.
- For more than about half an acre: a riding or zero-turn mower.
FAQ
What type of mower is best for St. Augustine grass?
A powerful rotary mower with a high maximum cutting height. St. Augustine is mowed tall, about 3.5 to 4 inches for Floratam, which is above what most reel mowers can cut.
Can you use a reel mower on St. Augustine grass?
Generally no for standard varieties. They are mowed too tall for most reel mowers. Dwarf varieties kept around 2 inches are a possible exception with a reel that adjusts high enough.
What mower is best for Bermuda grass?
For hybrid Bermuda cut under about 1.5 inches, a reel mower gives the cleanest result. Common Bermuda mowed at 1 to 2 inches can be cut well with a sharp rotary mower.
How short should I cut Bermuda grass?
About 1 to 2 inches for common Bermuda and roughly 0.5 to 1.5 inches for hybrid varieties, according to university turf guidance.
Do I need a self-propelled mower for St. Augustine?
It’s strongly recommended. St. Augustine is dense and heavy, especially in wet summer months, and pushing a mower through it is hard work.
