Final Mowing of the Season

RWEST · Oct 2, 2006

Okay - I know winter's just around the corner here in Southwest PA, so, my nephew and I were discussing how short to mow the grass for its winter nap. I was thinking I read somewhere to mow it short for the final time - he said he thought it was supposed to be pretty long.

Now I'm sitting here trying to remember what I've done every "last mow" for the prior 40+ years.

The lawns are mainly rye/bluegrass.
Thanx,

Thomas · Oct 2, 2006

Afternoon RWEST.
Yup before we know it old man winter shall be laying down the winter blanket...where did the year go.

I for one mowe the lawn short,for it makes it easier when comes to blowing the leaves off the lawn.

Nasty135 · Oct 6, 2006

I for one mowe the lawn short,for it makes it easier when comes to blowing the leaves off the lawn.

EXACTLY!!!

ovrszd · Oct 9, 2006

You should mow it tall. The standing grass will provide cover and protection for the root system. I mow short in the spring. Tall in the heat of summer. Short in the cool fall growing season. Tall the last time before winter. If you are still confused, call a lawn service or your local soil conservation agency.

shvl73 · Oct 9, 2006

I keep mowing right through fall, although I don't mow real short anyway. The mulching blades grind the leaves right up and fertilize the lawn and the best part, no raking!

Gatorboy · Oct 9, 2006

Mow it short. The ground is going to get frozen -- the grass goes dormant -- taller grass isn't going to do anything, so might as well cut it short and have it look nicer.

RWEST · Oct 10, 2006

Hmmm - 3 shorts and 1 long.
Well, I talked to the lawn care service and they said to mow it short so it doesn't get "snow mold", so, short it is.

deereguy · Oct 10, 2006

I owned a grounds maintenance service for 14 years, if a customer wanted short for the final mow- I mowed it short. Otherwise, I mowed it the same heighth as all season long (usually 3" for rye/fescue). I found at this heighth customers yards would "green up" faster in the spring, if they fertilized on a regular basis. As far as leaves- kept them shredded and pulvarized in the yard- unless they were so thick it caused matting of the grass. Never mowed until frost was off.

Enjoy your day!

neverenough · Oct 10, 2006

I skip the last cutting of the year and leave it tall. As soon as the grass is dry in the spring, and the frost is out of the top layer of ground, I mow. I am the first to mow, and the first to have green grass in the spring, by weeks. Leaving it tall helps insulate the ground in the spring and hold heat during spring thaw. This is where root damage occurs. It's not the freeze during the winter, it's the freeze-thaw-freeze-thaw cycle that happens during the spring which causes the stunted growth and or freeze out of grasses. Most lawn grasses are pretty much cold hardy and shouldn't freeze out(die), but, if you want green lawn early, leave it tall.