![]() ![]() The dormancy period for grass is often the active growth period for weeds, and mowing leaves or other lawn care operations can spread weed seeds throughout your lawn When preparing grass for winter, healthy grass plants should be reduced slowly to the proper grass height, or leaf blades may dieĭuring dormancy periods, dry periods, the hottest periods, or the coldest heavy foot traffic can damage your lawn and lead t compacted soil and make the lawn unevenĭry soil and the increased risk of soil compaction from heavy traffic during dry summer months can kill your lawn just as easily as the damage to roots foot traffic causes in the winter months When grass is dry, the grass blade height can not be reduced quickly, or the grass crown will be cut, and you will have dead grass Soil that is wet can easily become compacted, locking roots into areas of low oxygen and causing health issuesĬompaction leaves little air for roots to get oxygen from and makes grass blades highly susceptible to weed, pest, and fungal diseases, all of which can be fatal to turf The grass may die at the root level and not come back in the spring resulting in bare spots or an entirely scalped lawn that needs to be replacedĬold-season grasses typically thrive on high levels of moisture, and plants like fescues go dormant to prevent excess liquid usageĬutting leaves can cause damage to the blades, and grass loses precious water needed to survive and slowing the growth process after the dormancy stage especially if dull blades or the wrong mower blade is used The grass is brittle, and very little sunlight is available greatly reducing grass’ photosynthetic abilities Below are some examples of when a mow is a no-go. When grass is stressed due to any external factor, mowing should be avoided. Augustine grass will need protection from the cold. For several weeks either in summer, winter, or both, lawns will enter a dormant season until soil temperatures are favorable again.Ī grass-like fescue will need extra care in the winter, while St. There are times throughout the year when our lawn faces stress that is above and beyond the normal run of things. ![]() Cutting the blades short before the dormancy stage of the colder months can prevent snow mold and accelerate the growth process at the end of the dormant periods. Letting summer grass grow tall at the beginning of fall and start cutting it back mid-fall will build a strong root network that can deal with frigid winters. Summer grass types can handle being cut to 2 inches if the one-third rule is applied over the fall season. ![]() Allowing taller grass in the spring can help shade the soil and reduce the damaging effects of hot sun and inadequate moisture in northern grasses facing summer.Īfter the heat has passed and irrigation is consistent deep watering, dethatching, and aeration can lead to deeper roots and faster recovery times.įor southern grasses facing winter, you will want to implement the opposite approach and cut the grass as low as is safe to do. The blades of cold-season grasses, which typically grow taller than warm-season blades, are especially vulnerable to scalping during the summer heat.īefore grass enters the dormant season, you will want to have already cut it to the best height for the approaching season.īlades of grass shade the soil, and grass clippings and thatch can act as a mulch layer locking in water to help prevent drought damage. It is not advisable to mow grass when it is dormant as the weight of the lawn mower is enough to cause compaction, and too low of a mower height can scalp the blades and kill the grass. Should You Mow Grass When It’s Dormant?.As the sponge fills up with and holds onto the water for long periods of time, this also creates the perfect breeding grounds for a massive outbreak of lawn diseases.Īnd finally, a thatch layer filled with long grass clippings will require far more frequent lawn de-thatching, which can be expensive, is not environmentally friendly if avoidable, and is often avoidable by good lawn care practices. A thatch layer that is filled with clippings from long grass will stop water from freely flowing into the lawn soil, thus depriving the lawn roots of water, so more water may need to be applied to the lawn, which is very wasteful.Ī lawn thatch layer which is full of old grass clippings is just like a sponge sitting inside a lawn. This creates more sponginess in the lawn but can also create several new problems. Many of these longer grass clippings will also sink into the thatch layer of the lawn. They will only ever break down very slowly, and will often just sit on the lawn for a very long time without barely breaking down at all. Longer grass clippings should never be left on the lawn. ![]()
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