Autumn is a important time for lawns as they are often recovering from becoming dried out in summer and need to prepare for the harsh cold weather in winter. Grass is a very resilient plant so caring for it is very easy, but not taking the time to mow it properly now can cause it so stay brittle and discoloured for the rest of next year.
Kris Lord, an expert from The Lawn Man has revealed a big mistake gardeners tend to make in September and October is not changing the height of a lawn mower’s blades. He said: “When considering autumn lawn mowing, it is very important for your grass to raise the height of your mower as winter approaches. You should aim to leave at least 2.0-2.5 inches of grass remaining after cutting.”
Grass needs lots of energy in autumn to prepare for the freezing cold weather, as it will likely already be struggling to get enough sunlight as the days get shorter and darker.
Cutting a lawn too short now will reduce its ability to photosynthesis so the grass blades cannot store energy, so the roots will not be able to grow properly.
If roots are short in winter then they will be more exposed to frost, and they will be too weak to recover from any damage from the cold.
Once spring arrives next year the grass will likely be badly damaged, discoloured, and will struggle to turn green again even by the time summer rolls around.
If you want to keep a lawn healthy then make sure to adjust a lawn mower so you are not cutting the grass too severely and keeping it long enough to stay protected in winter.
How to mow a lawn properly in autumn
Make sure you are not cutting any more than one third of a lawn’s height in a single mow, as this can shock the grass and cause roots to stop growing for up to three weeks.
Keep the mower blades slightly longer than they were in summer, and make sure you are also only mowing once every two weeks rather than every single week.
Be careful to not mow a lawn after it has rained can cause it to clump up and the excessive moisture, which can encourage mould, moss and even fungal diseases to spread.
Taking the time to adjust mowing blades might simple but is the best way to ensure the grass can grow enough to stay protected during winter so it stays thick and green for next year.