Ask SAM: Postpone mowing until springtime

This column is provided by Larimer County Extension's Small Acreage Management (SAM) Program to assist rural residents.

Dear SAM,

Is fall a good time to mow my grass pasture? I'd like to get rid of the grass stems to make the place look neater.

G. Brown

Dear G.,

Fall is a time when many people clean up their properties and get ready for winter. A pasture with grass seed stalks can look ragged. But that ragged look could improve the health of your pasture.

Your grass will benefit if you postpone mowing until next spring. While those dead seed stalks might look messy, they catch winter snow and prevent it from blowing away. When the snow melts, the plants will benefit from the moisture. In our dry climate, every drop of water you can capture will help your grass.

Grass residue also insulates the crown of the grass plant. The blanket of old leaves protects against cold temperatures and the drying effects of winter winds.

If you want to mow, wait until spring. Springtime mowing reduces the shade on the crown of the grass plant where new leaves are growing. This could increase spring growth.

Knocking down the grass seed stalks and stubble also opens up the pasture for grazing. Often, seed stalks form on plants the animals failed to graze the previous year. Not wanting to get poked in the face by the stiff stalks, the animals are likely to skip over those same plants next year if left uncut. Mowing stalks off in the spring will even the grazing field.

Think of mowing as a rapid and uniform grazing event. Set your mowing height at 3 to 5 inches. Mowing too short can have the same negative effects as overgrazing. Leave the clippings in the field to provide organic matter for the soil.

If your grassy acres are not used for grazing, consider leaving them unmowed. The tall grasses provide wildlife habitat and protect the soil from erosion. If you see excess dead grass accumulating and smothering the plants, mow sections of the grassland every three or four years. By mowing in sections you will be leaving a majority of the land available for wildlife.

SAM

Have a question about rural living? Write to Ask SAM, Larimer County Cooperative Extension, P.O. Box 543, Fort Collins, CO 80522.