Last cut before winter- how short should you go?
Especially if you live in a colder climate, when winter approaches you may begin wondering how short your last cut should be. Cutting it too short - or too long - are both problematic. Here are some things to consider:

Cut higher? Lower? Stay the same?
States often post guidelines for what they recommend you to do in terms of lawn care and mowing. Unfortunately, some of the advice given is all over the place. Certain states will tell you to cut lower at the end of the season while many advocate not changing the height of your mowing at all. Yet sometimes these same sites recommend fertilizing practices that many would argue will kill your grass rather than encourage it to grow. It may be hard to have faith in advice like this when it is so inconsistent. That being said, most lawn care professionals feel cutting lower at the end of the season is the way to go.

How low should you go?
A three-inch cut is considered ideal for most grasses growing in cool seasons. These three inches mean the lawn can still have considerable photosynthesis. Lower than that and it may use up more of its nutrients faster, trying to regain its height while depleting the soil. This could contribute to more difficulties later. Three inches is also an ideal height for protecting the soil surface from the sun in the hotter months. If you tend to keep your grass even higher than three inches in the summer, you might consider slowly tapering down the height as the weather gets cooler until you're cutting it at three inches for the winter.

Why isn't longer better?
A three inch cut means the grass blades will stay upright properly. If it gets too tall, it begins to fall over and mat. When it reaches a matting stage, it is also shading itself, retaining moisture, and susceptible to disease harboring. When heavy snow sits in, you may see diseases set in and create "snow mold". Maintaining that airflow is important just like any plant, so leaving your grass taller than three inches before winter is not ideal.

How tall is your grass actually?
Another thing to keep in mind is what is sometimes called the "one-third rule". For example, grass that is cut at four inches is actually approximately five-and-a-half inches tall once cut. This comes from a rule of never removing more than one third of a lawn's total height in a single cut. For example, if you somehow let your grass get to seven inches tall, your instinct would be to cut it straight down - but you shouldn't. Instead, you should only cut one-and-a-half or possibly two inches for the first mowing, then wait half of a week to a week before cutting it again. Taking too much off at once will result in a shock to the grass that will affect its health and ability to flourish.

The quality of your lawn will influence your home's curb appeal and determines how much it stands out in the neighborhood. Lawns that have dead spots or look bare can cause the home to look neglected and in poor quality. If you want your property to look appealing, there are a few lawn care tips to follow in each season to ensure that it can thrive.

1. Use Pre-packaged Fertilizer
Fertilize your lawn with pre-packaged feeds during the spring season and use a product that contains nitrogen. Your lawn can grow stronger with the fertilizer to ensure that it thrives once the temperatures increase in the summer season.

2. Water
Watering the grass in the summer season with a garden hose or with sprinklers will keep it looking green in the middle of a heat wave. Water it during the cooler parts of the day to prevent the water from evaporating.

3. Lightly Scarify the Grass
By lightly scarifying the lawn, you can remove dead grass that is present in the Spring to allow it to grow back healthier and stronger.

4. Avoid Mowing the Lawn Too Much
In the summer season, the lawn shouldn't be mowed too much in a dry period, which can cause certain areas to become bare. Stick to mowing the lawn once or twice a week when it's needed.

5. Remove Leaves
Leaves that accumulate in the yard during the Fall season may be beautiful but can cause it to dry out due to a lack of light. Rake the leaves into piles every few days before putting them into the compost.

6. Fertilize in the Fall
You can fertilize the yard again in the Fall season to encourage strong growth of the grass and help it to thrive once the Winter months arrive. You can also aerate the yard by spiking it down three to four inches with a pitchfork or an electric aerator.

7. Remove Weeds
The Summer season is the time to remove weeds that are present to prevent them from overtaking the lawn. You'll need to spray clovers and daisies and pull out pernicious weeds at the root.

8. Use Top-Dressing
Top dressing can be applied in an even amount on top of the lawn once it's aerated. Brush it into the holes to prevent it from killing the grass.

9. Pick Up Leaves in the Winter
You may find a few remnants of leaves that continue to fall off the trees in the Winter season, making it necessary to pick them up to ensure that the lawn can thrive as much as possible in the cold season. Consider racking them up or mowing the lawn to suck them up quickly.

10. Don't Walk on the Grass
Although there's not a lot of care that can be provided to the grass during the winter months, it's important to avoid walking on it, which can leave black marks.

By following these 10 tips, you will be able to have a happy and healthy lawn no matter the season.