Grass in New Jersey starts preparing for next spring long before winter arrives, building stronger roots and thicker growth under the surface.
A simple adjustment right now can help prevent matting, disease, and patchy spots when the weather warms again. The move: lower the lawn mower height before winter sets in.
1. Prevents Snow Mold From Taking Over
Snow mold thrives when long grass blades get matted down under heavy snow and ice. Cutting your New Jersey lawn shorter before winter removes the perfect environment where this fungal disease loves to grow.
When spring arrives, you won’t find those ugly brown or pink patches scattered across your yard. Your grass will green up faster and healthier without fighting off disease from day one.
2. Reduces Matting Under Heavy Snow
Long grass blades bend and flatten when snow piles up during New Jersey’s cold winter months. Once matted down, the grass can’t breathe properly, which suffocates the roots and causes dead spots.
Shorter grass stands up better under snow’s weight and allows better air circulation. When the snow melts, your lawn recovers much quicker without those ugly flattened areas that take forever to bounce back.
3. Lets More Sunlight Reach The Crown
Did you know the crown of your grass plant sits right at soil level and needs sunlight to stay alive? Tall blades create shade that blocks those precious rays during winter’s already limited daylight hours.
A shorter cut opens up the canopy, allowing maximum light to reach the crown throughout the cold season. More sunlight means your grass stays stronger and ready to grow aggressively when spring temperatures rise in New Jersey.
4. Discourages Voles And Rodent Damage
Voles and field mice absolutely love tall grass because it gives them perfect cover to hide from predators while they munch on your New Jersey lawn. These little critters create tunnels and runways that destroy grass roots throughout winter.
Cutting grass shorter eliminates their protective hideout, making your yard less appealing to these unwanted visitors. You’ll notice far less damage come spring, saving you money and frustration on repairing bare patches.
5. Speeds Up Spring Green-Up Time
When grass is cut shorter before winter, sunlight warms the soil faster once temperatures start climbing in early spring. Warmer soil means roots wake up quicker and start growing sooner than lawns with longer, shading grass.
Your New Jersey neighbors will wonder why your lawn looks lush and green while theirs still looks brown and sleepy. That head start makes all the difference in achieving a beautiful yard earlier in the season.
6. Improves Air Circulation Around Grass Plants
Proper airflow prevents moisture from getting trapped at the base of grass plants, which is where fungal problems and disease start brewing during wet winter months in New Jersey. Shorter grass allows wind to move freely through your lawn.
Better circulation keeps everything drier and healthier throughout the season. Your grass roots stay strong and disease-free, giving you a significant advantage when it’s time for spring growth to begin again.
7. Makes Spring Cleanup Much Easier
Nobody enjoys raking matted, moldy leaves and debris from tall grass when spring finally arrives. A shorter lawn means less mess accumulated over winter and way less work when cleanup time rolls around.
You’ll spend more time enjoying your New Jersey yard and less time breaking your back with tedious raking. Plus, your first spring mowing becomes a breeze instead of a battle with overgrown, tangled grass that clogs your mower.