Don’t store the lawn mower just yet 11-12-07

Don’t store the lawn mower just yet

For many of us our lawns have already experienced a light frost or two and have pretty much ceased foliar growth until next spring. Does that mean we can put closure to our lawn mowing chores as well? Not if you want your lawn to have that neat groomed appearance throughout the winter.

Even though much of the lawn may have already gone dormant, there will be localized areas with southern exposure, or otherwise been protected, and will require a hard killing frost or freeze to completely shut down growth.

As we rake leaves from the lawn we often lift grass blades of unequal lengths creating an uneven turf canopy. Therefore, once the last leaves have been raked and the lawn has gone completely dormant, a final mowing that is slightly higher than the normal summer mowing height will leave a nice clean appearance to the turf canopy.

If your lawn did not receive a fall pre-emergent herbicide application, and winter weeds are already beginning to appear, you will probably need to plan on a post-emerge herbicide to control these weeds are keep the lawn mower ready to mow throughout the winter.

Published November 12, 2007

Dr. Wayne Wells is an Extension Professor and Turfgrass Specialist. His mailing address is Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, Mail Stop 9555, Mississippi State, MS 39762. wwells@ext.msstate.edu