A lawn that's been mowed properly looks good up close, not just from the street. That means a consistent height, edges cut along the path and garden beds, and clippings dealt with.
What you get
The mow itself, the edging along paths and driveways, and line trimming round fences, posts and the bases of trees where the mower can't reach. Clippings are either left to mulch back into the lawn or bagged and taken away. Say which you'd prefer. Bagging makes sense after a long gap, when a thick layer of clippings would smother the grass.
One-off or ongoing
A one-off cut is handy before a sale, an inspection, a party, or after you've been away. For ongoing work, the usual rhythm is fortnightly through summer and monthly or so in cooler months, because that's how the grass grows. Your lawn might be different. A shady, sandy block near the beach doesn't grow like a sunny one in the hinterland.
The frequency guide goes into the timing in more detail.
Grass types round here
Kikuyu, buffalo and couch are the common ones. Kikuyu grows fast and spreads into garden beds if the edges are ignored. Buffalo handles shade better and doesn't like being cut too short. If your lawn looks patchy after mowing, it's often because it's been cut shorter than it likes. Tell us if you know what grass you have, or send a photo if you don't.
Tall, overgrown lawns
If it's been months, the first visit takes longer and costs more than a normal mow, because the grass has to come down in stages. After that, regular visits are quick. Tell us how bad it is when you ask for a quote, and send a photo.
Lawn care for the whole garden, including hedges and beds, is on the garden and hedge care page. If your lawn has sprinklers that aren't working properly, see reticulation checks.
Related: Regular garden maintenance, Commercial lawn and garden care, Garden care by season.