The Best Time to Stop Mowing Your Lawn in Montana for Winter

While I hope that winter is still a few months away, I've also noticed a little bit crisper air in the evenings on my deck and the fresh dew in the mornings returning to my lawn.  Yes, fall is in the air, which means winter following, which means we need to start thinking about how to get our lawns ready for colder weather and getting us set up for next year and the best lawn on the block.

The Season Really Is Starting to Come to an End for Summer

As fall starts to creep into Montana, there are a few tips that can help you prepare for winter with your lawn.  While you should continue through September into October with your mower, it should wind down by the middle of next month.  Typically, you should leave your lawn with about 2-3 inches of grass to help with keeping moisture in check, but also protect it from the upcoming frost and snow.

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Here Are 5 Easy Tips to Make Your Lawn the Best for Winter and Next Spring

You've made the cut.  Now it's time to protect that lawn through our tough Montana winters and get ready for the following year.

1. Keeping things off the grass.  If you have lawn chairs or tables, decorations or lawn ornaments that may cover parts of your lawn, remove them.  They could cause waterlogging and will block out any of the winter sunlight.
2. Get rid of clippings.  It may start out beneficial, but in the long run in can cause thatch buildup which can eventually destroy your lawn.
3. Fertilize your lawn.  Yes, there are autumn/fall/winter types of fertilizers that are available to use before that first snow hits and stays.
4. Those pesky leaves.  You may think it is a natural compost, but in reality, it can block out sunlight and smother the grass in moisture.
5. Keep off the grass.  Especially if it is wet or frozen.  As winter is the most vulnerable for grass, smothering or squashing the blades can impact the way it protects itself and the soil it's growing in.

What are some of your favorite ways to get ready for the winter months in your backyard?  Let us know via the social media posts, our app chat feature or you can send me an email here.