Tips from Olle Garden Bed: Should You Cut The Grass Short Before Winter

When preparing your yard before winter comes, you need to remember many things. Take care of your rose bushes, cover your perennials, and clear the garden of any debris. But never forget to prepare your lawn! Most people know that they should rake leaves and protect plants from frost, but what about grass? Should you shorten it before winter? The following content also has some reference value for raised garden beds.

This is a problem that often arises at this time of year. Next, you will find answers and some winter care skills for your precious lawn.

Should you mow the grass before winter?

The answer is yes!

During the growing season, you should always keep the grass between 3 and 3.5 inches. However, when the time comes for your last cutting this year, make sure to cut it to about 2 inches.

It helps to protect new growth and minimize pests such as grubs, rats and voles. These small animals feed on lawns and nest in tall grass. So don't forget to give your lawn a nice haircut before winter comes!

Tips for lawn care before winter

Watch your watering habits

It is important to evaluate and revise any watering techniques in the fall. As the temperature starts to cool, you don't need to water the yard like you did in spring or summer. Too much water will damage your grass. Therefore, please ensure that only the required water is provided for the lawn.

If you have an automatic sprinkler, please water the lawn twice a week around 4:00 a.m. Each area shall be watered for about 20 minutes.

If you live in an area with frequent snowfall, you may need to stop watering at the end of September or October. This is the time when your lawn is dormant.

However, if you live in a humid climate with sunshine all year round, you can continue to water the lawn once or twice a week for about 20 minutes in each area.

Proper mowing

Cut the lawn to 2 inches at the last trim. However, please note that blunt blades can cause certain types of lawn diseases, which you need to avoid. To prevent these problems, always keep the mower blade sharp.

For this purpose, sharpen the knife at least twice a year. Once this is done, reconnect the blade to the mower and start cutting again!

Apply fertilizer

In late autumn and early winter, thoroughly fertilize your lawn (especially the cold season grass) to supplement the nutrients lost in the hot summer soil. The fertilizer will stay in the soil and feed the roots of the lawn throughout the winter. When spring comes, your lawn will be covered with healthy and dense grass.

There are four types of fertilizers for your lawn: compound, liquid, slow release and organic. You can also select the Home option.

Compound is a simple and quick way to fertilize lawn. These granule formulas can be directly applied to grass. If you want to get results quickly, this method is a good choice.

Liquid fertilizer is another popular choice for those who prefer a simple application process. Spray the liquid on the lawn or garden to let it soak into the soil. While this method has its advantages, remember that it tends to evaporate quickly, so you may need to reapply it more frequently than other types of fertilizer. In addition, be careful, because too much will burn your lawn.

Unlike liquids, timed release formulations are designed to penetrate the ground over time rather than immediately. This means that you don't need to reapply frequently, and your lawn will always look healthy.

If you are looking for an environmentally friendly way to keep your lawn green and lush, organic fertilizer is a good choice. These products do not contain chemicals or other potentially harmful ingredients, but sometimes take longer than traditional alternatives to show results.

Professional tips: Inflate the lawn and sow before fertilization! This will help the fertilizer go deep into the ground and loosen any compacted soil.

Tidy

When preparing the lawn for winter, one of the most important things is to remove any objects left on the lawn. Logs, toys and outdoor furniture such as patio chairs or tables should be removed before mowing.

In the long and cold winter, leaving these items on the lawn will also create a big dead space where they sit due to their weight.

Cut grass proudly!

Now that you know whether you should mow the lawn in winter, it's time to start your winter lawn care!