The exact time to mow in the fall if you want green grass in the spring: use the 1/3 rule
HOMEOWNERS can start taking care of their gardens now so that they have green grass in the spring.
As the weather cools this fall, there are mowing tips to ensure your lawn stays healthy during the cold months.
The golden rule of growing grass is, “As it grows, keep mowing,” meaning you have to keep mowing it to keep it going.
Lawn grass continues to grow during cold weather, sometimes even after the first frost of the year.
Grass normally continues to grow until soil temperatures reach around 50 degrees, which may not be until November.
Your last mowing of the year should be about a week before the first frost, according to a gardening blog called The Weed man.
Mowing your grass in the fall can help increase your lawn’s ability to resist disease and death in the winter.
It’s not just important when you mow your lawn; you should also mow your grass when it is at the right height.
The one-third rule can help you figure out when to mow your lawn.
The rule says that you should never remove more than a third of the leaf when mowing.
For example, if you mow your grass when it is two inches high, you should not let it grow higher than two inches before mowing it again.
By removing just a third of the leaves each time you mow, you can promote good grass growth, with several benefits.
First, it keeps the clippings small enough so that they can spread across the garden, which can act as fertilizer.
You can also collect the clippings, bag them and take them to a composting facility.
Following the one-third rule can also ensure that you mow often enough to promote lateral growth.
Grass that grows sideways can help the garden grow thick and dense, creating a healthy appearance and helping to prevent weeds.
What is the one-third rule?
The one-third rule is a lawn care tip that helps you know when to mow your lawn.
The guideline recommends not mowing more than a third of the grass length at a time.
For example, if your grass is two inches tall, you should mow it when it is two inches high.
The one-third rule keeps lawns healthy and provides deeper roots for the grass.
The tip also prevents excessive clippings and allows small clippings to spread across the garden, promoting lateral growth.
It is important to cut your grass short before it stops growing for several reasons. One of them is the chance of snow.
When snow falls on long grass, the grass can bend or felt, creating an environment for mold and disease.
If your lawn is choked, your grass may not recover from winter.
Shorter grass is stiffer, making the lawn more resistant to damage from ice and snow.
In addition to mowing your lawn briefly before it gets too cold, it is important to rake the autumn leaves from the grass.
Debris such as leaves, twigs and loose branches should be mulched or raked from the lawn before winter arrives, otherwise it could smother your grass.