You work hard to keep up your yard with regular mowing and lawn maintenance throughout the year. Hours of edging and mowing are required to maintain an immaculate yard every season of the year. One issue people run into is how low they should cut their grass in the winter.
It is imperative to mow your yard to the correct height before winter, or else you risk damaging your grasses’ ability to withstand frost and grow back healthy and strong. Many people recommend cutting your grass to a height of two and a half inches. You can do so by setting your mower blade to the correct size before you begin mowing.
In this article, we will dive into how low you should cut your grass in the winter, as well as essential steps you can take to protect your yard in the colder months. We will also cover why it is recommended to cut your yard short before winter and how to keep your grass healthy all year.
How Low Should You Cut Your Grass In The Winter
Table of Contents
When temperatures start to be in the fifties during the day, your grass will typically stop the growing process.
To figure out when you should mow your yard, you should research your area’s first frost date. After you have found this information, you can cut your yard a few times before to make sure it is the correct height for winter.
Many people recommend gradually cutting your yard to the correct height so you can ideally train your yard to thrive at a shorter size. By cutting your yard by no more than one-third of its height every time, you keep from shocking your yard and allow it to transition to winter months easily.
Why Should You Cut Your Grass for Winter
Your yard invites celebrations and plenty of guests every season of the year, so taking time to make sure it is healthy is essential to have a strong yard year after year. Healthy grass in the spring has a strong correlation to how the yard is taken care of during colder months.
A crazy aspect about grass is that it never stops growing; it only slows the growing process in the winter months when it gets below 40 degrees. As the winter months begin to roll in, cutting your grass one final time gives your yard an excellent foundation for new growth in spring and keeps leaf mold and mildew away.
Leaf mold and mildew are detrimental to your yard, and leaving your grass long gives mold a perfect spot to grow and develop.
Is it Better to Leave Your Grass Long or Short for Winter
When it comes to cold weather in the winter months, it is recommended to keep your yard short for many reasons. When the grass in your yard is left long, you give mold and mildew a chance to coat your yard after the first frost.
If you leave your grass long during the winter months, you open it up to get a mold that has the potential to kill off your yard. Cutting your yard short gives your grass a strong chance to make it through the winter without having to put up with mold or mildew weighing it down.
Is It Okay to Cut Grass in Cold Weather
As the winter months draw near, your grass begins to slow down the growing process and does not grow nearly as quickly as the rest of the year. That means that you should not need to mow your yard during cold weather, and if you do, you should with caution.
Anytime the outside is wet or damp, especially during the winter months, it is not recommended to mow your lawn. Mowing your lawn after snow or rain will likely turn into a muddy mess that you will have to take plenty of time to fix.
Another aspect to consider if you truly need to mow your lawn in the winter months is that cutting your grass in cold temperatures can permanently damage your yard. If you feel you have to mow your yard while it’s cold outside, do so on a warmer day and be cautious about how to protect your grass best.
What to Do to Prepare your Yard for Winter
There are many steps you can take to ensure that your yard makes it through the harsh cold of winter with no issues.
One step you can take is to make sure you cut your yard short but not too short before the winter season begins. You can do so by cutting your grass to a height of two and a half inches.
If you overcut your grass or cut it too short, you risk cutting too much of the grass blade and keeping it from growing back properly. If you let the grass be too tall, you risk frost matting over the top of your grass and causing issues.
You can also prepare your yard for winter by making sure all of the leaves are off of your grass. Leaving piles of leaves on your yard along with any frost or snow that may come is sure to kill the grass underneath and damage your yard. Also, with frost piling up, your yard can develop mildew and turn into an absolute mess.
Lastly, you should make sure you fertilize your yard every fall to give it an extra boost before heading into a cold winter month. Taking the time to fertilize in the fall will ensure your yard has adequate nutrients to make it through till spring.
Conclusion
People everywhere are welcomed home by a yard of beautiful greens that paint a perfect picture for their house. Yards are tended to by homeowners week after week and they add a refined touch to any home.
Although you drive by many immaculate yards on a daily basis, what many people forget is the work that goes into them looking in tip-top shape day in and day out. As people head into the winter months, they wonder just how low they should cut their grass to ensure it comes back healthy and strong.
Yard work throughout the year is imperative to keep your front and back yard in tip-top shape and ensure your yard is healthy all year. One thing you must always add to your to-do list before winter comes is making sure you cut your yard to a shorter height.
Taking the time to cut your yard to a shorter height sets your grass up for success and gives it a solid foundation to grow lush and full when spring comes around again. The reason so many cut their yard to a height of around two to three inches is that shorter grass keeps mold and mildew at bay and gives the grass a healthy and strong base to grow off of.
Another step many people take to give their yard extra nutrients is by fertilizing your yard in the fall. By fertilizing in the fall, you give your yard extra food and nutrients before it starts to slow its growing process down for the cold months ahead.
