{"id":6626,"date":"2021-11-28T20:53:13","date_gmt":"2021-11-28T20:53:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/?p=6626"},"modified":"2025-03-26T17:16:16","modified_gmt":"2025-03-26T17:16:16","slug":"how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/","title":{"rendered":"How Short to Cut Grass Before Winter"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does it sound complicated? It\u2019s 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.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-table-of-contents-block ub_table-of-contents\" id=\"ub_table-of-contents-b2081f9a-68e2-4bc1-a1ac-fa8c304e6157\" data-linktodivider=\"false\" data-showtext=\"show\" data-hidetext=\"hide\" data-scrolltype=\"auto\" data-enablesmoothscroll=\"false\" data-initiallyhideonmobile=\"false\" data-initiallyshow=\"true\"><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-header\" style=\"text-align: left; \"> \t\t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-title\" style=\"\">In this article, we\u2019ll cover:<\/div> \t\t\t\t \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-extra-container\" style=\"\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"ub_table-of-contents-container ub_table-of-contents-1-column\"> \t\t\t\t<ul style=\"\"><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/#0-should-you-cut-the-grass-shorter-or-taller-before-winter\" style=\"\">Should you cut the grass shorter or taller before winter?<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/#3-best-height-for-cool-season-grass-before-winter\" style=\"\">Best height for cool-season grass before winter<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/#4-best-height-for-warm-season-grass-in-winter\" style=\"\">Best height for warm-season grass in winter<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/#5-when-to-stop-mowing-for-the-year\" style=\"\">When to stop mowing for the year<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/#6-how-to-prepare-for-the-last-mow-of-the-year\" style=\"\">How to prepare for the last mow of the year<\/a><\/li><li style=\"\"><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\/#7-faq-about-how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\" style=\"\">FAQ about how short to cut grass before winter<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>   <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"0-should-you-cut-the-grass-shorter-or-taller-before-winter\"><span id=\"should-you-cut-the-grass-shorter-or-taller-before-winter\">Should you cut the grass shorter or taller before winter?<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"531\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_tree-nature-grass-cold-winter-plant-825473-pxherecom.jpg\" alt=\"Early Winter\" class=\"wp-image-12626\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_tree-nature-grass-cold-winter-plant-825473-pxherecom.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_tree-nature-grass-cold-winter-plant-825473-pxherecom-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_tree-nature-grass-cold-winter-plant-825473-pxherecom-768x510.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/rsz_tree-nature-grass-cold-winter-plant-825473-pxherecom-610x405.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/pxhere.com\/en\/photo\/825473\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">PxHere<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How short you cut your grass before winter depends on the type of grass you grow and where you live.<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"1-if-your-lawn-has-heavy-snow-and-mold-issues-cut-your-cool-season-grass-shorter\"><span id=\"if-your-lawn-has-heavy-snow-and-mold-issues-cut-your-cool-season-grass-shorter\">If your lawn has heavy snow and mold issues, cut your cool-season grass shorter<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Low mowing discourages <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-pink-snow-mold\/\"><strong>pink snow mold<\/strong><\/a><strong> and <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-gray-snow-mold\/\"><strong>gray snow mold<\/strong><\/a><strong> <\/strong>which<strong> <\/strong>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.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Mowing low <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-get-rid-of-voles-in-yard\/\"><strong>discourages voles<\/strong><\/a><strong> and other pests. <\/strong>These tiny creatures like to nest in taller grass, so a shorter cut prevents them from overwintering in your lawn.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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\u2019t be too tall if it\u2019s not done growing.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here are some related articles:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-care-calendar-cool-season-grass\/\">&#8220;Lawn Care Calendar for Cool-Season Grass&#8221;<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-mowing-tips-and-tricks\/\">&#8220;8 Lawn Mowing Tips and Tricks&#8221;<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"2-if-your-lawn-suffers-cold-damage-cut-your-warm-season-grass-taller\"><span id=\"if-your-lawn-suffers-cold-damage-cut-your-warm-season-grass-taller\">If your lawn suffers cold damage, cut your warm-season grass taller<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Warm-season turfgrass is especially susceptible to cold damage because it\u2019s best adapted for the warm southern U.S. Though it isn\u2019t scientifically proven, the higher mowing height supposedly reduces <a href=\"https:\/\/turf.purdue.edu\/warm-season-turf-winterkill-2014-what-can-you-expect-and-now-what\/#:~:text=Mowing%3A,and%20the%20soil.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">warm-season turf winterkill<\/a>.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A higher cut will allow the warm-season grass blades more leaf area for photosynthesis and may reduce winter injury. <\/strong>Increased height also helps grass crowd out weeds and increase the lawn\u2019s traffic tolerance.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Experts at Clemson University recommend raising the height of warm-season grasses by one-half inch to <a href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/8347-2\/#:~:text=raise%20the%20mowing%20height%20by%201%E2%81%842-inch%20to%20promote%20deep%20rooting%20and%20increased%20carbohydrate%20production.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">prepare warm-season lawns<\/a> for winter.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Here are some related articles specifically on warm-season grasses:<\/strong><\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/lawn-care-calendar-warm-season-grass\/\">&#8220;Lawn Care Calendar for Warm-Season Grass&#8221;<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/winter-lawn-care-for-warm-climates\/\">&#8220;Winter Lawn Care for Warm Climates&#8221;<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"3-best-height-for-cool-season-grass-before-winter\"><span id=\"best-height-for-cool-season-grass-before-winter\">Best height for cool-season grass before winter<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/cool-season-grass-1.jpg\" alt=\"growth of cool season grass\" class=\"wp-image-17693\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/cool-season-grass-1.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/cool-season-grass-1-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/cool-season-grass-1-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/05\/cool-season-grass-1-610x343.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How short should you trim cool-season grasses in the winter? Is a 4-inch lawn too tall? Is 2 inches too short? <strong>Generally, a good height to cut cool-season grasses before winter is 2 to 2.5 inches.<\/strong> However, it also depends on the regular mowing height used throughout the year and the health of the grass.&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI 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,\u201d says Kevin Frank, professor and Turf Extension Specialist at Michigan State University.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below is a chart with the regular mowing heights for <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/guide-to-cool-season-grasses\/\">cool-season grass<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Grass Type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Standard Cutting Height for Home Lawns<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Last Mow Height Before Winter<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/fine-fescue-guide\/\">Fine fescue<\/a><\/td><td>1.5 &#8211; 3.5 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/ipm.missouri.edu\/meg\/2010\/4\/Proper-Mowing-Practices-for-Your-Lawn\/#pubs:~:text=Kentucky%20bluegrass%20lawns%20%E2%80%93%20mow%202.5%20to%203.5%20inches.\">Kentucky bluegrass<\/a><\/td><td>2 &#8211; 3.5 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/simpson.ca.uky.edu\/files\/mowing_your_ky_lawn.pdf#page=2\">Perennial ryegrass<\/a><\/td><td>2 &#8211; 3.5 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/tall-fescue-guide\/\">Tall fescue<\/a><\/td><td>2 &#8211; 4 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Data source:<\/strong> Adapted after data from the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.extension.purdue.edu\/extmedia\/ay\/ay-8-w.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Purdue University<\/a><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note<\/strong>: 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uaex.uada.edu\/about-extension\/united-states-extension-offices.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Extension office.<\/a><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"4-best-height-for-warm-season-grass-in-winter\"><span id=\"best-height-for-warm-season-grass-in-winter\">Best height for warm-season grass in winter<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"450\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/warm-season-grass.jpg\" alt=\"growth of warm season grass\" class=\"wp-image-17692\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/warm-season-grass.jpg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/warm-season-grass-300x169.jpg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/warm-season-grass-768x432.jpg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/09\/warm-season-grass-610x343.jpg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Infographic by Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since warm-season grasses are more susceptible to winterkill, <strong>it\u2019s best to keep them at their current height or mow them one-half inch higher for winter. <\/strong>This approach keeps the grass and soil insulated from the cold weather.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">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 <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/last-mow-of-the-season\/\">the last mow of the fall<\/a> for low-mowed grasses is 2 to 2.5 inches, while tall-mowed grasses are best kept at 3 to 4 inches during winter.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Below is a chart with regular mowing heights for <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/guide-to-warm-season-grasses\/#:~:text=other%20golden%20rule.-,mow%20at%20the%20correct%20height,-Check%20out%20this\">warm-season grass<\/a>.&nbsp;<\/p>    <figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table><tbody><tr><td><strong>Grass type<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Standard Cutting Height for Home Lawns<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Last Mow Height Before Winter<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/bahiagrass-guide\">Bahiagrass<\/a><\/td><td>3.0 &#8211; 4.0 inches<\/td><td>3.0 &#8211; 4.0 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/bermudagrass-guide\/\">Bermudagrass<\/a><\/td><td>0.5 &#8211; 1.5 inches<\/td><td>2.0 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/buffalograss-guide\/\">Buffalograss<\/a><\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 4.0 inches<\/td><td>3.0 &#8211; 4.0 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/carpetgrass-guide\/\">Carpetgrass<\/a><\/td><td>1.5 &#8211; 2.0 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/centipedegrass-guide\/\">Centipedegrass<\/a><\/td><td>1.5 &#8211; 2.0 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>St. Augustine dwarf varieties<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/st-augustinegrass-guide\/\">St. Augustinegrass<\/a> std. varieties<\/td><td>2.5 &#8211; 4.0 inches<\/td><td>3.0 &#8211; 4.0 inches<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/zoysiagrass-guide\/\">Zoysiagrass<\/a><\/td><td>1.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><td>2.0 &#8211; 2.5 inches<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data source: Adapted after data from <a href=\"https:\/\/gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu\/lawns\/maintenance-and-care\/mowing-your-florida-lawn\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IFAS Extension University of Florida<\/a><\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note<\/strong>: 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 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.uaex.uada.edu\/about-extension\/united-states-extension-offices.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Extension office.<\/a><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"5-when-to-stop-mowing-for-the-year\"><span id=\"when-to-stop-mowing-for-the-year\">When to stop mowing for the year<\/span><\/h2>    <figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" src=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/AdobeStock_459204613-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Morning frost on young grass\" class=\"wp-image-30975\" srcset=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/AdobeStock_459204613-1.jpeg 800w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/AdobeStock_459204613-1-300x200.jpeg 300w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/AdobeStock_459204613-1-768x512.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/AdobeStock_459204613-1-610x406.jpeg 610w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/morning-frost-on-young-grass-with-place-for-text\/459204613?asset_id=459204613\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maykal<\/a> | Adobe Stock Free | <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Don\u2019t get ahead of yourself with the last cut of the year \u2014 keep mowing as long as your grass grows. So, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/when-does-grass-stop-growing\/\">when does grass stop growing<\/a>? Does grass even grow during winter?&nbsp;<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It\u2019s usually too cold to cut the grass when air temperatures consistently drop below 55 degrees Fahrenheit. <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-tell-if-grass-dead-or-dormant\/\"><strong>The grass is dormant<\/strong><\/a>, and you must stop mowing.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cool-season grasses stop growing when the soil temperature drops below 40 to 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Warm-season grasses have a different <a href=\"https:\/\/ipm.ucanr.edu\/TOOLS\/TURF\/ESTABLISH\/seasongrth.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">seasonal growth pattern<\/a> and can enter dormancy once average soil temperatures drop below 50 to 55 degrees Fahrenheit.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The first frost of the year is also a sign to stop cutting the grass. <\/strong>By the first frost, your lawn should already be at the winter cut height.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>If you live in a mild climate, your grass may grow year-round. In that case, you\u2019ll need to mow some throughout the winter.<\/strong><\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"6-how-to-prepare-for-the-last-mow-of-the-year\"><span id=\"how-to-prepare-for-the-last-mow-of-the-year\">How to prepare for the last mow of the year<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Check <a href=\"https:\/\/garden.org\/apps\/frost-dates\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">your area&#8217;s first frost date<\/a> 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.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You\u2019ll have to mow the lawn less frequently, and it&#8217;s essential to remove no more than one-third of the blade per mow. If you take off more than that, you\u2019ll stress the grass too much.<\/p>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Note: <\/strong>While you\u2019re at it, go through all the motions of preparing the lawn for winter to keep the grass healthy and strong. This includes:<\/p>    <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/the-best-way-to-remove-leaves-from-your-yard\/\">Removing fallen leaves<\/a> and debris<\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/best-lawn-fertilizers\/\">Applying fertilizers<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/different-types-of-soil-amendments\/\">soil amendments<\/a><\/li>    <li><a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-aerate-lawn\/\">Aerating the lawn<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-dethatch-lawn\/\">dethatching<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-over-seed-a-lawn\/\">overseeding<\/a><\/li>    <li>Applying treatments for weeds, diseases, and pests<\/li>    <li>Adjusting the watering schedule and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/winterize-sprinkler-system\/\">preparing the sprinkler system for winter<\/a><\/li>    <li>Properly cleaning and <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-winterize-lawn-equipment\/\">storing the lawn equipment<\/a><\/li> <\/ul>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Learn more from our guide \u201c<a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-winterize-your-lawn\/\">How to Winterize Your Lawn<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"7-faq-about-how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\"><span id=\"faq-about-how-short-to-cut-grass-before-winter\">FAQ about how short to cut grass before winter<\/span><\/h2>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"8-can-you-mow-your-grass-in-winter\"><span id=\"can-you-mow-your-grass-in-winter\">Can you mow your grass in winter?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We don\u2019t 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.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"9-should-i-cut-new-grass-before-winter\"><span id=\"should-i-cut-new-grass-before-winter\">Should I cut new grass before winter?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You should cut new grass before winter, especially for northern grasses such as Kentucky bluegrass, perennial ryegrass, or fescues. If you <a href=\"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/how-to-overseed-lawn\/\">seed the lawn<\/a> at the right moment, you\u2019ll have plenty of time for a few mowings before dormancy and frost.&nbsp;<\/p>    <h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"10-is-it-bad-to-cut-grass-before-a-freeze\"><span id=\"is-it-bad-to-cut-grass-before-a-freeze\">Is it bad to cut grass before a freeze?<\/span><\/h3>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We don\u2019t recommend mowing the grass when there\u2019s 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.<\/p>    <h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"11-bundle-up-and-let-a-pro-handle-it\"><span id=\"bundle-up-and-let-a-pro-handle-it\">Bundle up and let a pro handle it<\/span><\/h2>    <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If your fall schedule doesn\u2019t allow for such fine attention to detail in your lawn, contact one of our <a href=\"http:\/\/www.lawnlove.com\/\">local lawn care professionals<\/a> for a two-minute quote. They\u2019ll mow grass and leaves and get your lawn through the fall and winter weather.<\/p>   <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle wp-block-ub-content-toggle-block\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-block-0bd464ae-c66c-4487-9d32-346a819becbe\" data-mobilecollapse=\"true\" data-desktopcollapse=\"true\" data-preventcollapse=\"false\" data-showonlyone=\"false\"> <div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion\" style=\"border-color: #f1f1f1; border-top-left-radius: 8px; border-top-right-radius: 8px; border-bottom-left-radius: 8px; border-bottom-right-radius: 8px; \" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-block-98afce2c-a9b4-4abc-a59c-4a5880d5ca3b\"> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title-wrap\" style=\"background-color: #f1f1f1;\" aria-controls=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-0bd464ae-c66c-4487-9d32-346a819becbe\" tabindex=\"0\"> \t\t\t<p class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-title ub-content-toggle-title-0bd464ae-c66c-4487-9d32-346a819becbe\" style=\"color: #000000; \"><strong>Sources:<\/strong><\/p> \t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-toggle-wrap right\" style=\"color: #000000;\"><span class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-state-indicator wp-block-ub-chevron-down\"><\/span><\/div> \t\t<\/div> \t\t\t<div role=\"region\" aria-expanded=\"false\" class=\"wp-block-ub-content-toggle-accordion-content-wrap ub-hide\" id=\"ub-content-toggle-panel-0-0bd464ae-c66c-4487-9d32-346a819becbe\">  <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Davenport, M. (2018). Prepare Warm-Season Lawns for Winter. Clemson Cooperative Extension. <a href=\"https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/8347-2\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/hgic.clemson.edu\/8347-2\/<\/a><\/li>    <li>Frank, K. (2008, September 19). Autumn turf tips. Michigan State University Extension. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/news\/autumn_turf_tips\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/www.canr.msu.edu\/news\/autumn_turf_tips<\/a><\/li>    <li>Orick, J. (2021, November 15). Winter Lawn Care Tips. Purdue University College of Agriculture. <a href=\"https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/btny\/ppdl\/potw-dept-folder\/2021\/winter-lawn-care-tips.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">https:\/\/ag.purdue.edu\/department\/btny\/ppdl\/potw-dept-folder\/2021\/winter-lawn-care-tips.html<\/a><\/li>    <li>Patton, A., Bigelow, C. (2014). Warm-season turf winterkill 2014: What can you expect and now what? Purdue University. https:\/\/turf.purdue.edu\/warm-season-turf-winterkill-2014-what-can-you-expect-and-now-what\/<\/li> <\/ul>  <\/div> \t\t<\/div> <\/div>   <p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Main Photo Credit: <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/images\/backyard-garden-field-mowing-using-riding-tractor-grass-mower\/366352631?asset_id=366352631\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Tomasz Zajda<\/a> | Adobe Stock Free | <a href=\"https:\/\/stock.adobe.com\/license-terms\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">License<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cut the grass about 2 to 2.5 inches tall in preparation of winter for higher resilience to cold, diseases and pests.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":50,"featured_media":30973,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_et_pb_use_builder":"off","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[126],"tags":[147],"class_list":["post-6626","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-lawn-care-tips","tag-lawn-care"],"acf":[],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/09\/AdobeStock_366352631-1.jpeg","author_info":{"display_name":"Lauren Bryant","author_link":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/author\/lauren-bryant\/"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6626","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/50"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6626"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6626\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/30973"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6626"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6626"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lawnlove.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6626"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}