The leaves are falling so it’s time to start thinking about what you need to do to get your lawn ready for Winter. Mowing is an important job that, if done correctly, can help reduce the amount of Snow Mold (brown spots) you have in your lawn when the snow melts next Spring.
Once the grass growth slows down, continue to mow your lawn each week as you normally would. Each week you'll be able to lower your cutting height slightly, so that you're always removing 1/4 - 1/3 of the grass blade. Do this until the lawn is about 2 - 2.5 inches tall. Continue to mow at that height for as long as the grass is actively growing. Ensuring your lawn is cut short, but not scalped before Winter, will help prevent snow mold come Spring time.
Most mowers allow you to adjust the height of each wheel. If you raise the wheel, you lower the cutting deck, and as a result, get a shorter cutting height. A lot of times, people don’t realize that you need to adjust the back wheels as well as the front wheels. This will ensure an evenly cut lawn heading into the colder months.
Note: If you're mulching leaves, it is helpful to make one pass with the front of the mower raised high and the back of the mower lowered down, cutting the grass shorter. For the second pass, after most of the leaves are chopped, you can lower the front of the mower to match the back.
If you're having any difficultly with the wheel height adjustment levers, you can spray a little lubricant, like this vegetable-based Lubri Magic, and they’ll be easier to adjust.
If you'd like to learn more, check out our additional tips in our Fall Lawn Care Tips Video.