How high for last mowing?

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 20, 2004

That's my question for the fall season. How high or low should I be cutting my grass for what could be the last time of the season. This is an old pasture I've been working to reclaim and have looking pretty decent now. Any thoughts?

BB_TX · Sep 20, 2004

If there are any weeds, keep mowing until there is no longer a threat of them going to seed. That is the best way (short of chemicals) to control weeds and improve the quality of your pasture.

Junkman · Sep 20, 2004

Keep it cut as close as possible so the falling leaves blow off of the grass. I cut my grass at 2 1/2" for the fall. Any closer and I am also cutting rocks in the lawn. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

MossRoad · Sep 20, 2004

Gary, Gary, Gary. It is never going to be winter in Northern Indiana this year and you will be mowing in December! /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif At least that is my prediction. You can laugh at me if we get measurable snow before Thanksgiving. Strange weather, huh?

I like to keep mowing mine until it stops growing, which is sometime during leaf season. I can't really tell when. I never change my height setting. The grass seems to retreat on its own come fall. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Gary_in_Indiana · Sep 20, 2004

"It is never going to be winter in Northern Indiana this year and you will be mowing in December! At least that is my prediction." 

It's that kind of insightfulness that made you a TBN All Star! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

It has been an odd year here. A monsoon spring, a summer season like a mild springtime and now a couple weeks of summer temps in September. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif With all of the precipitation we've had already, I'm thinking we could have a snowy winter for the first time this millennium.

As to the pasture, I've been cutting it as high as I could set the RFM wheels and it looks pretty good (for an old pasture). /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif Please understand, I'm not comparing what I have to a lawn. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I was thinking of taking it down to about half this height after I mow this week (because it's too long to do that now). I could still mow until it stops growing but just have it a more lawn like height.

To use jargon GolfGar would appreciate, more like the fringe than the short rough. I just brush hogged a couple other old pastures I have on my 'holiday mowing schedule' (Memorial Day, Independence Day & Labor Day) that would be high rough not even Tiger could hack out of.

Would lowering the height for the front pasture to a more lawn like height now be a good idea for fall? The one plus I can see is that if we have a wet spring and I can't mow for a while I'll have three inches less to mow the first time through. What do you think?

chucko · Sep 20, 2004

Grass stops growing?

MossRoad · Sep 20, 2004

I'd try it a little shorter with each cutting until you get an appearance that you like. Do a test area to make sure you aren't cutting too much.

We had so much rain, and now no rain for a week or so. The grass is turning brown and I may have to water the front for the first time this year. Weird weather. /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

Gatorboy · Sep 20, 2004

Grass stops growing? 

Yes, just like it does in Florida -- just a longer non-growing season. Actually, I think the number of times I cut my lawn per year here in Maryland is about the same as I did in Florida. My last cut here is usually sometime in early December, and my first cut is at the end of March or early April. When spring comes, I am having to cut much more often here -- every 4 or 5 days.

In Florida, from about the 15th of October until the 15th of March, I only needed to cut about 5 or 6 times. Once the daytime temps get out of the 90's those southern grasses take a break as well.

Boondox · Sep 20, 2004

( Grass stops growing? 

In Florida, from about the 15th of October until the 15th of March, I only needed to cut about 5 or 6 times.
)

Wow! We've usually had several hard frosts and a couple of wet snow storms by mid-October. In a typical year I won't see the ground after Thanksgiving until mid-April to early May...unless we have a January thaw

Pete

chucko · Sep 20, 2004

I have to cut mine twice a week for most of the year and in the winter I plant rye and water to keep it looking green so I get to more once a week (maybe once every week and 1/2) but that does not seem to last long