The evidence is clear in my backyard, fall has truly arrived. My lawn is covered in an assortment of brightly colored burnt orange and rustic yellow leaves. And although I love seeing the beautiful colors, I’m itching to get outside and rake them up.
But aside from clearing away the leaves, I’m wondering how to look after my lawn this month — and whether it needs one last mow before winter.
To make sure I do things right, I asked lawn care experts for their advice. And it seems that even in mid-October it’s still okay to cut my lawn one last time before winter, as it will keep it healthy. But I need to get the cutting height just right.
There's still time to mow your lawn
“A final cut helps tidy the lawn, prevents it from getting too long or matted, and reduces the chance of moss or fungal growth,” says Chris Taylor, owner at Chris Taylor Gardening. “Grass that’s left too long can trap moisture and block sunlight, leading to yellowing patches and poor regrowth in spring.”
So, it’s not quite time to retire your lawnmower for the season. Taylor adds you’ll have to wait until the temperature consistently drops to below 50°F (10°C) before you do that. “A mild fall might let you squeeze in one last tidy-up in early November, but after that, the mower should stay in the shed,” he says.
Apart from using temperature as your guide, Sky Durrant, co-founder at Lawn Guru, takes his cue from whether his grass has stopped growing and whether the leaves have mostly fallen.
“I keep mowing until the grass stops growing and most of the leaves have fallen from my trees,” he says.
He also has a tip: “Mowing in late fall helps me mulch and bag leaves as they come down, which keeps them from smothering the lawn. Once the leaves have fallen and my grass has stopped growing I’ll call it for the season. “
Getting the cut right
The key to a good final mow is knowing how short to cut.
“Aim to leave the grass around 1.5 inches (4 cm) tall, or 2 inches (5 cm) if your yard is shaded,” advises Taylor.
And he warns, “Cutting your lawn too short before winter is one of the most common mistakes homeowners make.”
This is known as “scalping”, and it weakens the grass by exposing the soil and roots to cold air and frost, resulting in it becoming patchy, yellow, or even dead grass by the time spring arrives.
“Short grass also leaves less surface area for light absorption, meaning the lawn can’t recover as easily,” he adds.
What time of day should you cut your lawn?
The good news is you won’t have to be an early bird to mow your lawn at the best time. The optimal window is between late morning and early afternoon.
“Mow later in the day so the lawn has time to thaw and dry out,” advises Durrant. “Cooler fall mornings often mean frost or dew on the grass, which isn’t ideal for mowing. Mowing later in the day gives the lawn time to dry out so you get a cleaner cut.”
A top lawn care tip to do in the fall
While you are out in your yard this month raking leaves Durrant recommends a simple but smart trick.
“Instead of raking and bagging every last leaf, run them over with your mower a few times. The shredded pieces break down quickly and return nutrients to the soil, helping to feed your lawn naturally and improve soil health,” he says.
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