Lawn mowing may not be something that sounds appealing to do in the emerging months of autumn. Nevertheless, your grass will still be growing and needs to be cut up until the cusp of winter. This might be a messy endeavor if you live in a climate where the fall months start bringing heavy rains. Nevertheless, someone is going to have to mow your lawn, and it might as well be you if you own the property. If you have a considerable amount of lawn, you’ve likely already invested in a rider mower to keep grass stains off your shoes and clothes.
But what about managing the height of your grass during the fall months? While there might be a temptation to want to cut your grass much shorter so you don’t have to mow often, that’s not necessarily a good idea for one particular reason.
The Symbiosis of Grass Clippings with Your Lawn
You have to consider the height of your grass in the fall for one reason: Using grass clippings to keep your grass essentially fertilized. The general rule of thumb is to never cut off more than 1/3 of your grass during most mowings in the fall. This allows smaller amounts of grass clippings to fall in place so they provide nutrients for your lawn. The grass clippings also won’t be in large supply to prevent you from having to rake and bag them, possibly in the rain.
When Should the Grass Be Cut Shorter?
Doing the above height adjustment should be done consistently until the last two mowings of the season. Only then should you lower your lawn mower blade to the lowest setting. Consider this the equivalent of a crewcut for your lawn in order to prepare for the effects of winter. When you cut your lawn this short, it allows the sun to get into the crown of the grass to absorb the energy required to grow healthy next spring.
Because you left the grass clippings on your lawn each week, you’ve also fertilized the grass for the season. It’s enough where you won’t have to worry about trudging through wet grass to put down a commercially-bought fertilizer.
Consider a Mulching Lawn Mower
A mulching lawn mower is perhaps one of the best inventions ever in the world of lawn mowing. These cut up your grass clippings into finer pieces so they’re left behind for mulching while hardly being visible. If you buy a mulching lawn mower, you won’t have to worry about adjusting your lawn mower blade, because it’s already set for the 1/3-inch cut.
Consider a mulching lawn mower from the leading brands like Black & Decker. Electric ones generally go for around $180. Cordless models cost considerably more and above the $300 price range.