Cut your lawn to possibly the shortest height you have all season. The ideal height is around 2 1/2 inches. Cut it too low and the grass might not be long enough to photosynthesize and provide nutrients to the roots. Too high and the frost might become matted after a snowfall.
You should slowly mow the grass by reducing the blade height a little each time until the grass is about 2 inches. It's imperative to get in that last mow of the season, before you pack your mower away for the winter.
If your grass is too long, it's at risk for disease. The ideal grass height for winter is between 2 inches and 2.5 inches. This keeps grass short enough to resist disease spread, but not so short that it becomes overly stressed by cold temperatures.
Developing a strong root system creates a healthier plant. By late October, reduce the mowing height gradually during the last several mowings to about 2 inches. Shorter grass prevents matting and the formation of snow mold the following spring.” Shorter height sometimes discourages vole activity, although not always.
A mowing height between 2.5 to 3 inches is best for most of the season, except during summer stresses when the lawn mowing height should be raised one-half inch to mow at 3 to 3.5 inches. Raising the mowing height provides more insulation from summer heat and reduces water loss from your soil.
When mowing your lawn for the final time of the year, a general rule of thumb is to lower the blades by half an inch. So, if your lawn care pro normally mows your lawn to a height of 2.5 inches, they should mow it to 2 inches during the final mow.
Mowing actually helps make your grass grow thicker because the tip of each blade contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you cut the lawn, you remove these tips allowing the grass to spread and grow thicker near the roots.
Cool-season grass can be mowed down to about 2 ½ inches before winter's first frost. Warm-season grasses can be cut to 1 ½ or 2 inches in the fall before cooler weather appears. In fall, grass should be cut to a medium length to keep it at a reasonable height over winter but to keep the roots protect during winter.
Cutting the lawn short prior to winter has been commonly suggested in the past as a means of reducing spring damage from snow molds and voles, but cutting the lawn too short will be more of a stress to the grass than the injury you may experience from diseases or critters.
So What Is The Proper Height? After the last cutting of the season, your lawn should be around 2 1/2" in length depending on the variety. This length holds true for most cool season turfs such as kentucky bluegrass. Bermuda and bent grass lengths should be shorter, around 1 1/2 to 2" in length.
Waiting to mow protects insects
These insects feed animals such as birds and frogs and allow them to thrive. Leaving our lawns alone in the early spring allows these insects the time to wake up, multiply after the winter, and contribute to the part they play in the ecosystem.
what temperature is “too hot” to mow grass. When temperatures go beyond 80°F, your cool-season grass may begin to struggle. And when high temperatures last for extended periods of time, it can cause your grass' growth to slow down and its vibrant green color to fade.
To keep your tall fescue lawn healthy, you must continue care through the winter months as this cool season grass is actively growing. Tall fescue requires a 2-½ to 3 inch mowing height, and it is best to leave clippings on the lawn for additional nitrogen.
Grass Goes to Seed
In periods of stress such as unusually hot weather or being allowed to grow too long, grass can go to seed. This results in the grass looking more like a weed with its small white flowery stems.
Growth will slow as the grass puts its resources into the leaf tips to help them recover. Also, repeatedly cutting too much or mowing too short will leave your lawn susceptible to weed invasions, diseases, and an overall thin stand. It can also result in an excess of thatch developing.
Mowing too often, especially if you remove the grass clippings, runs the risk of depleting nutrients and can increase the build-up of thatch – that spongy layer that can cause issue with the health of the lawn.
When the weather is more akin to summer (in September and early October), you'll want to mow around every 6 days. However, as the temperature starts to drop consistently, your frequency will, too. Eventually you'll be mowing every 8 or 9 days before stopping entirely and breaking out the snow blower for winter.
Lawn clippings usually do not need to be bagged. Recycling lawn clippings can reduce your fertilizer needs and improve your soil. Recycling clippings to the lawn does not contribute to thatch. If you must remove clippings, they can be composted or used as mulch.
Grass stops growing in the fall when temperatures consistently remain between 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit (5-10 degrees Celsius). While grass can actually grow right down to freezing air temperatures (albeit slowly), it grows much better above the 40-50 degrees Fahrenheit range.
When they are too short, the grass is harmed by the heat of the sun and is exposed to too much sunlight. Additionally, the shorter grass then allots more energy toward growing the blades instead of creating a deeper root system. In turn, this weakens your grass, blades, roots, and the overall structure of the lawn.
Cool-season grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrasses and tall fescues, including Kentucky 31 fescue, grow most vigorously during the cool temperatures of late summer and early fall.
The short answer is yes, according to lawn care experts. Leaving grass clippings on the lawn can actually be healthy for the grass, as it helps build a strong and nutrient-rich soil. This practice is known as “grasscycling,” and it has become increasingly popular in recent years.
It depends on the type of grass. Kentucky bluegrass has runners that help it spread on its own. But many northern grasses are bunch-type grasses which don't spread, so seeding is needed to fill in bare spots. Perennial ryegrass and fescue are among the non-spreaders.
Most noxious weeds grow low to the ground after long-term repeated mowing. In these cases, periodic control through herbicides can remove plants that have acclimated to frequent mowing. Mowing will not eradicate noxious weeds. However, it can stress weeds, providing desired plants a competitive edge.
Mow at the highest setting on your lawnmower to promote deep roots, avoid grub damage and crowd out weeds.