how often should i cut the grass in the winter in so. california?

Question

it seems the grass does not grow as much in the winter and how much should i cut?

Answer 1

This really depends on a lot of variables:
- type of grass
- altitude
- personal preference
- amount of sun on your lawn
- drainage
- soil type

If you really have a lawn, and not just whatever has blown in on the wind over the years, it can be kept green during the winter in most coastal areas where frost is not a problem. In the fall, it's a good idea to "de-thatch" the lawn by using a special rake and then cutting as normal. A light feeding in the fall is acceptable, but not for leaf growth, but rather to strengthen the roots. Since fall and early winter can be very dry in So. Calif, you may need to water in spite of colder weather. Letting your lawn dry out in cold dry air will weaken it.

During the rainy months of late January, February, and March, cut only when you need to and try to cut in the afternoon after the grass has had a chance to dry out a bit. If your lawn has developed a crop of winter rye grass (very common in older lawns), it can become very long during the rainy months and get ahead of you. Avoid the temptation to severly cut it back - instead, raise up your mower to it's higher settings and just keep it looking neat. Feed heavily in April, taking advantage, perhaps, of one of the last heavy rains, to encourage dark green growth in the early summer.

If your lawn is a hodge-podge of bermuda, St. Augustine, random weeds, and who-knows-what-else, cut it back to within an inch of it's life in the late fall. De-thatch severly, then recut. I know, I know...this sounds like herbicide, but it's not. After this, you have two choices: 1) over seed with winter rye grass and water in - this will give you a nice crop of (temporary) green during the winter and spring (winter rye dies out in the summer heat); 2) let it lay fallow - it will look awful, but it won't die.

Either option, fertilize heavily in late spring using a high nitrogen fertilizer in combination with iron (So. California clay soils are often void of iron). Water in deeply. If water runs off quickly, it may be necessary to aeriate the soil. This can be done with a foot aeriator (for a small lawn) or a commercial aeriator (large lawn). If soil is heavy clay, the latter is probably the only sane choice. Soil will need to be as wet as possible to allow deep penetration of aeriators.

That should get you ready for a summer of very satisfactory lawn.

Answer 2

It's not a matter of how often, but a matter of how long the grass gets. You shouldn't cut off more than 1/3 to 1/4th of the grass blade at a time. So, if you like a 3-inch lawn, you should cut it when it hits about 4 inches. And how fast it grows depends on: sun availability (yeah, I know so-cal is sunny, but it's at a different angle in the winter), fertilizers you use, and water you give it. Also, the type of grass you use.

Here's some more info about lawns in California.

http://www.clarksgardening.com/lawn_care.html

Answer 3

grass is green cancer, so mulch the whole yard and plant out the area with endemic species. Kind of a choose your own adventure. preferably with species of plant requiring low watering; the mulch should help with this. You will never have to mow again. Problem solved.!
If you must mow, then cutting at a height that does not expose the whitish part of the leaf sheath; as this will burn the grass and do more harm than good. All the best little fella.
ps: become a buddist monk and use scissors; patience is thus aquired and will be the envy of your fellow suburban dream neighbours.

Answer 4

Summer grasses go dormant in the winter. Only cut it when it starts to look like it needs it. (It doesn't need as much water either, even in so cal.) We haven't cut the city parks turf in over three weeks. Don't cut more than one third of the blade length. Your mower should have sharp blades so the cut is clean and not shredding your turf. Otherwise you leave a wound that is an opening for diseases.

Answer 5

Grass doesn't like to be cut (it hurts), so the only reason it is cut is to satisfy the owner of the yard. Cut it as little as you like, if it starts getting too tall, the nice man at city hall will send you a letter telling you it is time to cut it.

Answer 6

I don't think your grass will grow much in the winter in SoCal. not enough sun to make it really grow. I think you won't have much to worry about until march or april when it starts raining like crazy.

Answer 7

2" would be good, about every month or so