"The Commish" wrote:
Hello. I live in Ottawa Canada, my grass being a fescue/bluegrass/rye
mix. Around labour day, I fertilized using a fall lawn care product with
weed control, as I was still having some weed problems (this seemed to
work, by the way). I aerated around the 21st of September, and the lawn
actually has looked best in the last month or so. I had intended to put
down one more application of fertilizer (wintercare) in late October
(perhaps next weekend) without weed control to prepare the lawn for the
winter and next spring. Since its getting down to the wire now, and the
grass probably only needs one more
cutting, my question is this: Is using the wintercare still a good idea
at this point? (Temperatures here are unusually low for this time of
year, we are already hovering just above 0c) Also, when I do cut the
grass that one last time, how short should I cut it, and should I bag it
or mulch?

Thanks SO much...

Jimmy

I'd go ahead with your winter care food now. This will ensure your
turf has readily available nutrient in the spring, as well as promoting
good root depth. It also allows you to use less nitrogen in the spring,
so you'll have less surge growth, and disease potential then.

As far as cutting, try to get it as short as possible before the
snow covers it up. This will help prevent snow mold next spring
by preventing long blades from laying over and compacting under
the snow. I start lowering the blade now (still cutting in Ohio),
and end up with it at about an inch on my final cutting.