Your lawn demands a different kind of attention when the summer months end. Preparing your lawn for winter isn’t just a routine task; it's an important step to ensuring the health of the grass and soil throughout the cold season. Winter lawn preparation isn’t so much about protecting it during colder weather. It’s about making sure that its entire ecosystem can remain vital, free of disease, and thrive come springtime for a healthier lawn.

“Great lawns start with strong root systems, and the nutrients stored in your grass from late-season fertilization go directly to the roots before winter, providing a foundation for growth when your grass comes out of winter dormancy. Healthy lawns are also weed-free, so it is important to prevent weeds from germinating and disrupting your lawn soil layer during this dormant period. As you prepare your lawn for winter, be sure to mow incrementally lower during your last 3 mows of the season (but never more than 1/3rd of your grass height), and proactively remove leaves to prevent heavy and disruptive raking in the Spring,” said Rob Palmer, CEO of Lawn Squad.

There are several things you can do to make sure your late summer and fall lawn receives the care it needs. Before you winterize your lawn mower and pack it away, take care of these lawn care tasks. (You'll thank yourself next spring.)

Benefits of Cutting Your Lawn Before Winter

  • Bolster winter resilience. A pre-winter cut encourages stronger root growth.
  • Promote spring growth. Stronger roots make it easier for the grass to bounce back when the warm weather of spring returns.
  • Prevent mold and other winter lawn issues. Neglected lawns can breed snow mold and other diseases that contribute to thatch decomposition. It can result in dead patches of matted grass.
  • Maintain aesthetics. Your lawn may not need to be perfectly manicured during the winter, but a final lawn mowing as the grass is going dormant will look visually appealing for months. Fall is the perfect time to do your final cleanup.
A man uses a riding lawn mower to mulch leaves and clean up a backyard before winter.
Mulching the leaves and doing a final grass cutting is a great way to give back essential nutrients and prepare your lawn for spring. Credit: Emily Fazio

Your Fall Lawn Care Checklist

1. Clear debris and leaves

  • Eliminate obstacles. Remove fallen branches, debris, and toys that will be in the mower's path.
  • Manage leaves. Use a leaf blower or rake to gather and remove dead leaves, or make a plan to mow twice—once to mulch the leaves, and a second time to trim the grass. Taking care of your leaves can prevent lawn diseases and improve soil conditions.

2. Trim Edges and Borders

Clean up the edges. Use a string trimmer or edger to clean growth along your sidewalks, driveway, and around garden beds.

3. Cut the Grass One More Time

  • The ideal height for your winter lawn depends on your grass type. Cool-season grasses are best left longer (2 inches tall is acceptable), but warm-season grasses can tolerate a slightly lower cut, around 1 to 1-½” inches tall.
  • Raise your mower blade to achieve the perfect height for your lawn.
  • Remember the one-third rule when it comes to mowing heights. Never remove more than one-third of the grass height in a single cut. Raise your mower deck. Your winter lawn can be a little higher than normal height.
A person drives over dry leaves in his lawn with a lawn mower.
Shred leaves thoroughly with a lawn mower. When done correctly, you can prevent suffocating piles and actually help add nutrients back to the soil. Credit: Cappi Thompson / Getty Images

4. Aerate or Dethatch the Soil

  • Use a core aerator to remove plugs of soil. Aerating compacted soil can improve the oxygen and water in the soil structure. Soil aeration not only enhances essential nutrient uptake by plant roots, but it also benefits soil microorganisms that play an important role in breaking down organic matter, releasing essential nutrients during the colder months, and promoting healthier plant and grass growth and development.
  • Address the thatch layer. Dethatching the grass to address the thick layer of thatch can also improve air movement and water penetration.

5. Reseed, Overseed, Apply Weed Killers, or Add Nutrients

  • Replant weakened areas. Add new grass seeds to areas that may have died during the summer heat. Seeds will need light watering as they sprout. Come spring, the area with dead grass will be ready to flourish as part of your summer lawn.
  • Consider areas to overseed. Cool-season grasses may require additional overseeding in the fall.
  • Eliminate tough weeds. Identify the different types of weeds that have appeared between your grass blades during the heat of the summer. It's an excellent time to apply an all-in-one weed killer or other lawn treatment to improve weed control.
  • Consider applying a high-nitrogen fertilizer after cutting. A layer of winter fertilizer can deliver a nutrient boost to help your grass endure the winter months. An application of fertilizer also makes it easier for the grass to bounce back as a greener lawn in the spring. “A late-season fertilizer application, also known as a 'Winterizer' treatment, is the most important application of the year for your lawn. It supplies your grass with the necessary boost of nutrients to survive the winter," shares Palmer.
  • Once the grass is cut, leave grass clippings. This is just a short haircut, so its lightweight layer won't threaten to suffocate the grass roots. It will also return organic matter to the soil all winter long.

Remember to Prioritize Fall Lawn Care

As cooler temperatures roll in, it's easy to shift the focus away from the lawn in winter and to other home projects. But first, remember that it's the ideal time to focus on your entire lawn and treat end-of-season lawn damage. From clearing debris to refreshing your curb appeal before winter, the efforts contribute to the health and appearance of your outdoor space.