Two Important Lawn Care Tasks You Don't Want To Forget Doing Before Frost Comes

At the end of each year, lawn care tasks start winding down as most people in the United States prepare for a dormant season. There usually is a little time left to finish those last minute items on your list to put your yard "to bed" so to speak. If you live in an area that experiences frost, you should be planning to complete two vital to-do items before the first big frost. Mowing the lawn and raking the leaves before the frost is essential to set yourself up for a healthy yard after winter is over. 

In the spring and summer, most people mow their lawn once every 5 to 10 days, depending on its rate of growth. As the days get shorter and cooler, you naturally need to mow your lawn less as its growth slows down. Before it frosts, you should plan to mow one last time to protect your turfgrass. Along with mowing your lawn, things you should do after your final lawn mow before winter include watering, removing leaves, and fertilizing. 

An easy way to remove leaves in your lawn is by raking them, either into piles to bag for compost or to redistribute more evenly. Raking leaves can be tedious. However, it's important not to neglect this task before the first frost. It is okay to leave some leaves behind, because they can provide many beneficial nutrients to the soil and shelter animals and insects. But leaving behind layers of leaves as a blanket on your lawn is not ideal.

Before you start hibernating for the winter, mowing the lawn one last time is the key to a stress-free spring in the new year. Mowing to the right height is one big habit that will help prevent lawn damage from snow. It is recommended that you mow your grass to a height of about 2 inches. Pay attention that you do not cut too much to avoid long-term damage. Mowing your lawn too short or leaving it too high can result in problems with snow mold, an annoying fungal growth that can impact the color of your lawn. Mowing before the frost is ideal, because you should avoid unnecessary activity on your turf once it has frosted. 

Raking the leaves in your yard is one of the top things to do to your lawn now before the first frost for more success in the spring. Removing leaves is necessary to keep the lawn healthy while it is dormant. A thick layer of leaves can lead to some of your turf developing diseases or dying. Sometimes it is not entirely necessary to rake all of the leaves and bag them. For example, if less than 50% of the lawn is covered by leaves, you might be okay mowing over them to help them decompose naturally. Try distributing them more evenly on your lawn to avoid the first frost creating large, wet mats. The lack of air flow and exposure to light can lead to the development of snow mold, too.