Even though the weather is much more tolerable than in the hot summer months, once that fall feeling arrives, the end of mowing the grass for the year is in sight. After week upon week of cutting the grass in the summer heat, homeowners are ready to switch out their lawn mowers for rakes and leaf blowers. Should you still mow your lawn in September? Yes, you can’t put the lawn mower away just yet. While grass may not grow as quickly as earlier in the year when it seemingly grew to knee-high lengths overnight, grass still grows well into fall. Here’s how to tell when it’s time to stop mowing your lawn for the season.
Why Mowing Is Important
Mowing helps promote a healthy lawn by encouraging thick grass and deep roots, controlling pests, and preventing weeds. Grass clippings also provide nutrients for the soil. Regular mowing makes the lawn look neat and can help keep your property in compliance with neighborhood and community rules. If you don’t mow regularly, tall grass can encourage pests and become weak as it limits sunlight, air, and water from reaching the roots.
When To Stop Mowing For The Season
When to stop mowing your grass depends on where you live, but generally you should stop mowing when the daytime temperature consistently dips below 50ºF to 55ºF and grass stops growing. In some areas that can be late October, and in others it can be as late as December. For your final cut of the year, aim to mow the grass one last time a week before the first hard frost of the season. This way, you won’t have long grass that gets matted under falling leaves or snow.
How Type Of Grass Affects Mowing
When you stop also depends on where you live and the type of grass you have: cool-season or warm-season. Warm-season grasses grow in warmer climates with hot summers and mild winters, typically within USDA Plant Hardiness Zones 7-11. These grasses stop growing as ground temperatures cool. Cool-season grasses can keep growing in cooler weather, even into the winter, depending on location. They grow in Zones 1-7. Some Southern states can support growing both warm- and cool-season grasses, so knowing your type is important for care.
What To Do For The Last Cut
Gradually decrease the height of your mower’s blades leading up to the last mowing for the season. The last cut should be about a half inch shorter than the usual height during the year because it encourages airflow and keeps the grass from bending and becoming matted over winter. If you mow your grass to a height of 2 1/2 to 3 inches during the year, keeping it at that height is fine. If you typically leave your grass longer at more than 3 inches, then reduce the height to 3 inches before winter arrives.
Don’t mow grass too short since it could cause damage or stress to the grass, and don’t leave it too tall because long grass can shade the soil and cause it to weaken. Don’t mow wet or frozen grass since damage from irregular cuts can lead to disease.
How To Tell It’s Time To Stop Mowing
While growth may slow down as temperatures cool, mowing is still required, but less frequently. Here are some signs the last mow of the season is coming, and you can finally take a break for winter:
As temperatures cool, you’ll notice grass growth begins to slow and mowing will need to be done less frequently. Growth will eventually stop. Rather than air temperature, soil temperature is a big indicator of when you can stop mowing. Check the soil temperature. Stop mowing cool-season grass when the soil temp is below 40ºF, and warm-season grass when temperatures dip below 55ºF.When leaves begin to fall, that’s a sign that cooler weather has arrived and the lawn is nearing dormancy for the winter.
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