When should you stop mowing your lawn before winter? It’s a good question. In the spring and summer, it can sometimes feel like you must get the lawnmower out every other day. And when you own farm property with large open grass spaces around the farm buildings, this may really be the case. Even late into the fall, cooling temperatures can actually have a rejuvenating effect on cool-season grass species\u2014meaning that you might have a lush, tall, green lawn right up until the snow flies. But this brings up a question: Should you cut your lawn right up until the last moment before winter? Or is it better to leave a few inches of growth intact in the fall? What\u2019s better for the lawn\u2019s overall health?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s best not to leave your lawn height too long over the winter. Continue your regular mowing schedule\u2014never removing more than about 1\/3 of the total length, and maintaining a height of around 2.5 to 3 inches. Keep this up until either the snow falls or there have been a few solid frosts that send the grass dormant. In very warm climates, there may not be a frost at all, and you may be mowing the lawn into December before it goes dormant. But in all cases, try to keep mowing as long as the grass is growing.<\/p>\n
It might seem like leaving the grass long might help it stay resilient against winter weather. But long grass will end up lying down or being crushed down by the weight of snow, where it becomes a potential breeding ground for mildew and other lawn diseases. Tall, dead lawn grass is also a prime habitat for destructive voles, who will happily use the tall grass to form an elaborate series of tunnels and nesting areas.<\/p>\n
Eventually, snow will cover the grass or it will simply go completely dormant. But before you park your lawn mower for the next few months, it can be beneficial to do a little maintenance to make sure that it starts up strong next spring. Consider pulling the battery and storing it ideally in a safe location where it won\u2019t freeze. Adding some fuel stabilizer to the gas tank can help keep the fuel from going stale or gumming up the lines as it sits unused. And if you really want to get ahead on next spring, go ahead and change your mower\u2019s oil and filter now. You\u2019ll thank yourself later.<\/p>\n