How Short to Cut Grass Before Winter

Cut the grass 2 to 2.5 inches tall before winter to protect the grass from snow mold and cold stress. Typically, this means cutting warm-season grasses half an inch taller than usual and cool-season grasses half an inch shorter.

Does it sound complicated? It’s actually not. We tell you all the important details, from the best height for your grass during winter to when to stop mowing, with arguments and expert opinions.

Should you cut the grass shorter or taller before winter?

How short you cut your grass before winter depends on the type of grass you grow and where you live.

If your lawn has heavy snow and mold issues, cut your cool-season grass shorter

Low mowing discourages pink snow mold and gray snow mold which appear in spring once the snow melts. Snow molds are most common in cool-season grasses in the northern U.S. and thrive in cold, wet, and matted lawns. Long grass encourages those conditions, whereas short grass reduces them. 

Mowing low discourages voles and other pests. These tiny creatures like to nest in taller grass, so a shorter cut prevents them from overwintering in your lawn.

This slightly lower mowing height for the last trim of the season also helps clean up the turf and plant debris and ensures the grass won’t be too tall if it’s not done growing.

Here are some related articles:

• “Lawn Care Calendar for Cool-Season Grass”
• “8 Lawn Mowing Tips and Tricks”

If your lawn suffers cold damage, cut your warm-season grass taller

Warm-season turfgrass is especially susceptible to cold damage because it’s best adapted for the warm southern U.S. Though it isn’t scientifically proven, the higher mowing height supposedly reduces warm-season turf winterkill.

A higher cut will allow the warm-season grass blades more leaf area for photosynthesis and may reduce winter injury. Increased height also helps grass crowd out weeds and increase the lawn’s traffic tolerance.

Experts at Clemson University recommend raising the height of warm-season grasses by one-half inch to prepare warm-season lawns for winter. 

Here are some related articles specifically on warm-season grasses:

• “Lawn Care Calendar for Warm-Season Grass”
• “Winter Lawn Care for Warm Climates”

Best height for cool-season grass before winter

How short should you trim cool-season grasses in the winter? Is a 4-inch lawn too tall? Is 2 inches too short? Generally, a good height to cut cool-season grasses before winter is 2 to 2.5 inches. However, it also depends on the regular mowing height used throughout the year and the health of the grass. 

“I would recommend that you lower the mowing height no more than one notch on your mower, typically one-half inch. This will help you clean up any leftover leaf mulch or debris and give the turf a little trim before winter sets in,” says Kevin Frank, professor and Turf Extension Specialist at Michigan State University.

Below is a chart with the regular mowing heights for cool-season grass. 

Grass Type	Standard Cutting Height for Home Lawns	Last Mow Height Before Winter
Fine fescue	1.5 – 3.5 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches
Kentucky bluegrass	2 – 3.5 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches
Perennial ryegrass	2 – 3.5 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches
Tall fescue	2 – 4 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches

Data source: Adapted after data from the Purdue University

Note: The best height for winter also varies with the grass variety and location. The best way to get a more accurate winter height for your coo-season lawn is to contact the local Extension office.

Best height for warm-season grass in winter

Since warm-season grasses are more susceptible to winterkill, it’s best to keep them at their current height or mow them one-half inch higher for winter. This approach keeps the grass and soil insulated from the cold weather.

Warm-season grasses fall into two groups: low-mowed (Bermuda, carpetgrass, centipede, Zoysia and dwarf St. Augustine) and tall-mowed (Bahia, buffalograss and standard St. Augustine varieties). A good cutting height for the last mow of the fall for low-mowed grasses is 2 to 2.5 inches, while tall-mowed grasses are best kept at 3 to 4 inches during winter.

Below is a chart with regular mowing heights for warm-season grass. 

Grass type	Standard Cutting Height for Home Lawns	Last Mow Height Before Winter
Bahiagrass	3.0 – 4.0 inches	3.0 – 4.0 inches
Bermudagrass	0.5 – 1.5 inches	2.0 inches
Buffalograss	2.0 – 4.0 inches	3.0 – 4.0 inches
Carpetgrass	1.5 – 2.0 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches
Centipedegrass	1.5 – 2.0 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches
St. Augustine dwarf varieties	2.0 – 2.5 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches
St. Augustinegrass std. varieties	2.5 – 4.0 inches	3.0 – 4.0 inches
Zoysiagrass	1.0 – 2.5 inches	2.0 – 2.5 inches

Data source: Adapted after data from IFAS Extension University of Florida

Note: The best height for winter also varies with the grass variety and location. The best way to get a more accurate winter height for your warm-season lawn is to contact the local Extension office.

When to stop mowing for the year

Don’t get ahead of yourself with the last cut of the year — keep mowing as long as your grass grows. So, when does grass stop growing? Does grass even grow during winter? 

It’s usually too cold to cut the grass when air temperatures consistently drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. The grass is dormant, and you must stop mowing.

Cool-season grasses stop growing when the soil temperature drops below 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm-season grasses have a different seasonal growth pattern and can enter dormancy once average soil temperatures drop below 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.

The first frost of the year is also a sign to stop cutting the grass. By the first frost, your lawn should already be at the winter cut height.

If you live in a mild climate, your grass may grow year-round. In that case, you’ll need to mow some throughout the winter.

How to prepare for the last mow of the year

Check your area’s first frost date to predict when your cool-season grass will stop growing. Then, work backward to gauge how many mows you have left so you can gradually adjust your mowing height.

You’ll have to mow the lawn less frequently, and it’s essential to remove no more than one-third of the blade per mow. If you take off more than that, you’ll stress the grass too much.

Note: While you’re at it, go through all the motions of preparing the lawn for winter to keep the grass healthy and strong. This includes:

• Removing fallen leaves and debris
• Applying fertilizers and soil amendments
• Aerating the lawn, dethatching, and overseeding
• Applying treatments for weeds, diseases, and pests
• Adjusting the watering schedule and preparing the sprinkler system for winter
• Properly cleaning and storing the lawn equipment

Learn more from our guide “How to Winterize Your Lawn.”

FAQ about how short to cut grass before winter

Can you mow your grass in winter?

We don’t recommend it unless you live in a warm, subtropical climate. Dormant or frozen grass is very susceptible to damage, and the mower will leave unattractive tracks in the wet soil. 

Should I cut new grass before winter?

You should cut new grass before winter, especially for northern grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, or fescues. If you seed the lawn at the right moment, you’ll have plenty of time for a few mowings before dormancy and frost. 

Is it bad to cut grass before a freeze?

We don’t recommend mowing the grass when there’s a frost in the forecast in the next two days. Frost stunts the grass growth, meaning your turf will heal slower and remain more vulnerable to diseases and pests.

Bundle up and let a pro handle it

If your fall schedule doesn’t allow for such fine attention to detail in your lawn, contact one of our local lawn care professionals for a two-minute quote. They’ll mow grass and leaves and get your lawn through the fall and winter weather.

Main Photo Credit: Tomasz Zajda | Adobe Stock Free | License