- Why Some Say Yes<\/a><\/li>
- Why Some Say No<\/a><\/li>
- The One-Third Rule: Learn It<\/a><\/li>
- Mowing Heights by Type of Grass<\/a><\/li>
- Cool-Season Grasses<\/a><\/li>
- Warm-Season Grasses<\/a><\/li>
- Put Proper Mowing Practices First<\/a><\/li>
- FAQs<\/a><\/li><\/ul> \t\t\t<\/div> \t\t<\/div><\/div>
Why Some Say Yes<\/strong><\/h2>
![\"mown](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/landscape-nature-grass-fence-plant-lawn-994438-pxhere.com-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Pxhere<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure> When it comes time to make you final mow of the season, the argument goes<\/a>, trim low:<\/p>
- It prevents the laying over<\/strong> of grass during the winter.<\/li> <\/ul>
- It helps prevent snow mold<\/strong> (a fungus<\/a> that occurs under the cover of snow) by denying it the long, wet grass<\/a> it needs to develop. The principal snow mold diseases<\/a> are Microdochium patch, Coprinus snow mold, Typhula blight, and snow scald.<\/li> <\/ul>
- It is an organic way to fight<\/strong> fungal growths of winter, no fungicides required. It should be followed by mowing low<\/a> with the first cut of spring.<\/li> <\/ul>
- There is less growth<\/strong> that needs to be pushed aside by new grass in spring. <\/li> <\/ul>
- It discourages meadow mice. <\/strong>The furry pests, also called voles<\/a>, leave tunnels in your lawn you won\u2019t find until after the snow cover melts. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Aesthetics: <\/strong>\u201cA lawn just looks neater if it has that close cut before the snow settles down,\u201d writes respected New York Times gardening columnist Joan Lee Faust. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Allows more sunlight to reach the soil,<\/strong> which means warmer soil temps and an earlier green-up in spring.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Removes dead grass blades and debris <\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>
- A natural way <\/strong>to encourage healthier grass, avoiding the use of chemicals<\/li> <\/ul>
- Reduces thatch levels<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>
Those making the argument recommend these guidelines:<\/p>
- Instead of following the one-third rule, cut the lawn by half<\/strong>. So instead of going from 4 inches deep to 2 \u00bd, go from 4 inches tall to 2 inches.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Be careful not to cut it too low<\/strong>; those low patches will die before spring<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow until all the leaves have fallen <\/strong>from the trees<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow until the grass has stopped growing <\/strong>for the year.<\/li> <\/ul>
Why Some Say No<\/strong><\/h2>
Setting mowing height too low can damage your lawn, other experts say:<\/p>
- Keep it normal <\/strong>when it comes to mowing height. Turf should neither<\/a> be cut short nor left long going into winter.<\/li> <\/ul>
- The root systems become shorter and smaller<\/strong>, limiting the grass\u2019 ability to pull in water and nutrients from the soil. This is because there is a direct relationship between the grass height and the amount of roots it can maintain. Lowering that grass height is the direct cause of the lessened root system<\/a>. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Mowing too close allows sunlight to reach weeds<\/strong> that otherwise would have been covered by the canopy.<\/li> <\/ul>
![\"lawn](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/Lawn-density-one-third-rule-v2-1.png\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez<\/figcaption><\/figure> - Low mowing reduces the area available for photosynthesis<\/strong>, which takes away from the vigor of the lawn. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Aesthetics<\/strong>: Lawns \u201clook much better\u201d when they are higher (take that, lovers of short grass), according to the University of Illinois Extension<\/a>. <\/li> <\/ul>
The One-Third Rule: Learn It<\/strong><\/h2>
For most of the year (with the possible exception of the last mow) the One-Third Rule is sound advice. The One-Third Rule says never remove more than one-third of your grass on any cutting.<\/p>
![\"One](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-one-third-rule-illustration-1.jpg\")
Photo Credit: Juan Rodriguez <\/figcaption><\/figure> Adhere to the one-third rule, and cut your grass down in increments. This will reduce the amount of stress you put on the grass as it grows throughout the year.<\/p>
Mowing Heights by Type of Grass<\/strong><\/h2>
The University of Minnesota Extension Service says homeowners should keep mowing<\/a> grass at the proper mowing height until it stops growing. Follow these proper mowing heights for healthy grass during spring, summer, and fall.<\/p> \n
- Aesthetics<\/strong>: Lawns \u201clook much better\u201d when they are higher (take that, lovers of short grass), according to the University of Illinois Extension<\/a>. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Low mowing reduces the area available for photosynthesis<\/strong>, which takes away from the vigor of the lawn. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Mowing too close allows sunlight to reach weeds<\/strong> that otherwise would have been covered by the canopy.<\/li> <\/ul>
- The root systems become shorter and smaller<\/strong>, limiting the grass\u2019 ability to pull in water and nutrients from the soil. This is because there is a direct relationship between the grass height and the amount of roots it can maintain. Lowering that grass height is the direct cause of the lessened root system<\/a>. <\/li> <\/ul>
- Keep it normal <\/strong>when it comes to mowing height. Turf should neither<\/a> be cut short nor left long going into winter.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow until the grass has stopped growing <\/strong>for the year.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Mow until all the leaves have fallen <\/strong>from the trees<\/li> <\/ul>
- Be careful not to cut it too low<\/strong>; those low patches will die before spring<\/li> <\/ul>
- Instead of following the one-third rule, cut the lawn by half<\/strong>. So instead of going from 4 inches deep to 2 \u00bd, go from 4 inches tall to 2 inches.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Reduces thatch levels<\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>
- A natural way <\/strong>to encourage healthier grass, avoiding the use of chemicals<\/li> <\/ul>
- Removes dead grass blades and debris <\/strong><\/li> <\/ul>
- Allows more sunlight to reach the soil,<\/strong> which means warmer soil temps and an earlier green-up in spring.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Aesthetics: <\/strong>\u201cA lawn just looks neater if it has that close cut before the snow settles down,\u201d writes respected New York Times gardening columnist Joan Lee Faust. <\/li> <\/ul>
- It discourages meadow mice. <\/strong>The furry pests, also called voles<\/a>, leave tunnels in your lawn you won\u2019t find until after the snow cover melts. <\/li> <\/ul>
- There is less growth<\/strong> that needs to be pushed aside by new grass in spring. <\/li> <\/ul>
- It is an organic way to fight<\/strong> fungal growths of winter, no fungicides required. It should be followed by mowing low<\/a> with the first cut of spring.<\/li> <\/ul>
- It helps prevent snow mold<\/strong> (a fungus<\/a> that occurs under the cover of snow) by denying it the long, wet grass<\/a> it needs to develop. The principal snow mold diseases<\/a> are Microdochium patch, Coprinus snow mold, Typhula blight, and snow scald.<\/li> <\/ul>
- Why Some Say No<\/a><\/li>
![\"Cool](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_1ls-cool-season-growth-1.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"Karl](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/karl-danneberger_200x200-low-mow.jpg\")
![\"Warm](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-warm-season-growth.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"Mowing](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/rsz_ls-mowing-patterns.jpg\")
<\/figure> ![\"Sharp](\"https:\/\/www.lawnstarter.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/04\/rsz_ls-does-my-blade-need-sharpening-illustration.jpg\")
<\/figure>