We’re just days away from killing frosts and the end of the lawn-mowing for the year. And unbeknownst to many, there’s a couple of tips you might consider before you put the Toro away for the winter.
Depending on how closely you’ve cut the grass all summer, now is the time when you might want to raise the deck on the mower – perhaps a half inch, or so – and leave a bit more grass on top for the dormant season that comes with frost and cold weather.
Why is this a good idea?
One, it provides some added insulation for the turf’s root system.
Two, it strips nicely, leaving a nice (but dormant) pattern to look at over the winter months.
Three, if you leave a bit more grass on top to freeze and turn brown, when you mow it the first time in the spring it allows the plant to green up more quickly – to kick into gear with its normal growth cycle.
Believe it or not, this really works. Leaving your grass longer for the winter season is a good cultural practice that not only benefits plant health, but the overall look of your lawn.
And of course, don’t forget to feed your lawn with that last shot of nitrogen because the nitrogen turns into sugar and supports root health during dormancy.
And, a good aeration helps with getting more of that nutrition to the root system, along with oxygen, moisture absorption, and the stimulation of new root growth.
It gets a lot of lip service, but the reality is that the fall sseason is one of the most important three months of the year for a better lawn come spring and summer, and it’s not that tough to do.
Just mow higher, feed, and give your grass a little breath of air.
You’ll see the results, come spring.
