GardenBanter.co.uk - View Single Post

EXT · 28-09-2009, 04:52 PM posted to alt.home.lawn.garden

wrote:
On Sep 26, 9:22 am, Phred wrote:
Hey all:

I live in New England, outside Boston.

What's the skinny on the last cut for the lawn? Thick or thin...

I'm starting to get some color in the trees, maples, aspens,
sycamores also getting some leaves dropping now. We have not had a
real frost yet.

I have not heard any neighbors out chomping the grass yet, so maybe
I'm missing a clue. Grass is about 3" and very lush.

Here in N.E. you never know if you could get 80+ or -20 in
October... I can remember hot days in fall when I was a kid, and I
dinna want the lawn to burn if I drop it too short.

We have a water ban now, as only 2" in Sept...

Thanks in advance!

Phred

I cut mine at normal to maybe 1/2" lower near the end of the season.
Keeping it a little shorter allows for some additional growth after
you cut it the last time. And I let the weather determine when that
is. Here in NJ I usually cut it the last time in mid Dec. Cutting
it very close to end of the growing season leaves it looking better
for the winter months. Some years when there has been a warm week in
Jan, I've even cut it again then to trim it up and make it look nice
and even again.

I have made the last lawn cut when the ground starts to freeze (a bumpy ride
on a riding mower), if it wasn't already cut. One year there was a light
snow flurry while I was cutting. The grass pick-up bags were partially full
of snow mixed with the grass cuttings.