Many homeowners often hand up their lawn mowers once the chilly season comes. Yet, it’s important to continue caring for your lawn, even in the cold.
This guide will provide you with valuable tips for cutting grass in winter. So let’s dive in and discover the secrets to keeping your lawn in top shape in the frosty winter season!
Does Grass Need Cutting In Winter?
You don’t need to cut grass as frequently during the winter compared to its growing season. However, it doesn’t mean that you can skip this task.
In some regions, grass still grows despite the cold. Hence, consider your local climate and the grass variety to tell if cutting it is necessary.
Often, cold-season grasses require winter cutting. So plan a proper cutting schedule if you grow these grass types:
- Creeping Bentgrass
- Creeping Red Fescue Grass
- Kentucky Bluegrass
- Perennial Ryegrass
Tips For Cutting Grass In Winter
You need to cut grass in the winter; however, this task can differ from what you often do in other seasons. But don’t worry! Please follow these tips to protect your beautiful lawn from the cold.
Use high-quality lawn mowers
Using a powerful lawn mower is beneficial for cutting thick grass in any season, including winter. It has more powerful cutting mechanisms that enable cleaner and more precise cuts.
Moreover, a well-built lawn mower can withstand various weather conditions. Hence, do not worry when running it across your lawn in the winter.
Do not mow before a frost
Cutting grass is easy if you handle it with a lawn mower. Thanks to this machine, mowing a large lawn turns out to be a breeze even for women.
However, aside from choosing the lawn mower, determining the right time to cut grass during winter is essential. For example, if you mow before a frost, you will face big problems.
Cutting the grass will leave open wounds on it. Unfortunately, the frost comes and worsens the wound. So, the grass can’t recover and turn yellow-brown.
Frost may also make the grass blades brittle and susceptible to damage. Moreover, when you mow in such conditions, the blades can shatter or break easily, resulting in an ugly law appearance.
So, avoid cutting your grass for about 48 hours before the frost. Otherwise, your lawn will suffer from damage.
Do not scalp the lawn when cutting
Scalping refers to cutting the grass too short. It’s often about removing a significant portion of the leaf blade.
This approach is not suitable for winter mowing. When you scalp your lawn, you are revealing the crown of the grass, which is essential for protection and regrowth during the winter.
As a result, it will be more vulnerable to diseases and stress. Instead, you should only aim for a higher cutting height to maintain your healthy lawn.
Raise your lawn mower deck
Grass growth slows down or even turns into a dormant state in cold temperatures. Hence, raising the cutting height is a must.
Raising your mower deck is one of the easiest ways to avoid scalping and setting the proper cutting height.
Increasing the cutting height allows your grass to retain more leaf area to promote its photosynthesis process. This method also provides insulation for the grass crowns.
Remove grass clippings
Grass clippings decompose slowly in the winter due to slower microbial activities. If left on the lawn, they may smother your grass and create a wet environment for developing diseases.
Hence, after cutting grass, remember to remove grass clippings. Then, you can ensure better air circulation and minimize the risk of fungal issues.
Do not walk on frosty grass
Stepping on a frost-covered lawn will damage the grass. The frozen grass can break underfoot. You will also leave unsightly footprints on your lawn.
It’s important to avoid walking on your frosty lawn, even when you need to mow it now. So, wait until the frost has melted, then take care of it.
Do not mow wet grass
Wet grass clumps together. Thus, it may clog your mower deck and impede proper cutting. Additionally, the wet clippings won’t disperse evenly, leading to an uneven appearance on the lawn.
What’s more, the weight of your lawn mower on the wet ground may cause soil compaction. It will harm the grass roots.
Maintain equipment
Ensure your lawn mower blades are sharp and in good condition. A dull blade will tear the grass instead of providing clean cuts.
Maintaining the lawn mower in cold temperatures is tricky. Hence, you need to check its oil level and fuel regularly. Cleaning the machine after every use is also required.
How Often To Mow Your Lawn During The Winter?
Luckily, winter mowing is less frequent than at other times. So if you cut the grass once a week in the summer, your lawn only needs cutting every three to four weeks, depending on your location.
We mow our lawns to control the grass’ growth rate. Yet, when the temperature drops to 40 degrees in the winter, it grows slower.
If the weather becomes too cold, grass may even stop growing. Hence, cutting your lawn too often is not necessary.
Conclusion
Cutting grass in winter is a crucial part of maintaining a healthy lawn year-round. By following the tips highlighted above, you can ensure your grass is ready to flourish when spring arrives.
Winter can’t hinder your lawn’s beauty if you know how to protect it. Hopefully, this article can help you with this lawn-caring task. If you need more tips to fight against the frost, do not hesitate to ask.
Thank you for reading!
