When to Stop Mowing for the Year in Florida

The last cut of the year comes with the first frost. The dates below are local to Florida, from NOAA climate records — not a national average.

Florida window
Dec 22 – Dec 27
across featured Florida cities
Turf region
Warm-season
Bermuda, Zoysia, St. Augustine, centipede, bahia, buffalo
CityLocal windowFull calendar
Jacksonville Dec 22 – Jan 12 Jacksonville calendar →
Orlando Dec 30 – Jan 20 Orlando calendar →
Tampa Dec 29 – Jan 19 Tampa calendar →
Miami * Dec 6 – Dec 27 Miami calendar →

* effectively frost-free — typical regional window rather than a frost-anchored one.

Windows are calculated from each city's average frost dates (NOAA 1991–2020 records) using university-extension timing rules — estimates, not appointments. Your ZIP: lawn calendar lookup.

Why then

Warm-season growth slows sharply as nights cool and stops when frost sends the lawn into dormancy — typically within two weeks of the first frost, after which the lawn browns and mowing is done for the year. In frost-free areas growth merely slows, and occasional winter mowing continues.

Frequently asked questions

When should I stop mowing for the year in Florida?

Across Florida's featured cities the window runs Dec 22 – Dec 27. Your own town can sit at either end of that range — use the city table on this page or the ZIP lookup for your exact dates.

Why do the dates vary within Florida?

Because climate does. The dates here are calculated separately for each city from its own NOAA 1991–2020 frost records, and elevation, latitude, and terrain spread them across Florida — the same task can be a week or two apart between towns. That local spread is exactly what generic national advice misses.

What if I miss the window?

Better to skip than to force it. Doing this job in the wrong season stresses the lawn more than not doing it at all — set a reminder for the next window.