The average last mowing in the state of Wisconsin is October 26th. Remember to mow your grass as short as possible at the last mowing. This will help with a number of potential problems that may occur over the winter.
- Vole Damage – voles are small rodents similar to mice that tunnel in the lawn under the snow. You will see little pathways through your lawn and sometimes up to your plants. This is more common when grass is kept too long in fall. While they will cause damage, it is rarely detrimental. Cutting the grass short and cleaning up piles of leaf debris will reduce the hiding and nesting areas in your lawn.
- Snow Mold – snow mold usually appears as dead patches in the lawn where piles of snow sat for long periods of time, such as at the ends of the driveway or along sidewalks – although it can happen anywhere in your yard. The patches are usually brown or even pinkish looking. It seems more prone in areas where grass was left long.
- Spring Green Up – generally speaking your grass will green up faster in the spring when it has been cut short. This is because there is less dead tissue for the new blades to have to push through.
Fall is a great time to fertilize your lawn. The temperatures are cooler and rainfall is more reliable. You don’t want to stimulate a lot of top growth so avoid fertilizers that are high in Nitrogen. “Winterizer” fertilizers work great in late October but do not use them if your lawn was seeded within the last two years. Spreading winterizer on newly seeded lawns can cause burning and dieout.