When is the last lawn mowing of the autumn?
By Service Plus Stockholm AB2 min read
Short answer
When should you mow the lawn for the last time in autumn?
The last lawn mowing in Stockholm is normally done at the end of October or the beginning of November, when the grass has stopped growing and daytime temperatures stay below 8–10 degrees. Mow to 4–5 centimetres, slightly higher than in summer, and always mow when the grass is dry. Grass that is too short freezes more easily, and grass that is too long gets snow mould.
How do you know the grass has stopped growing?
Grass keeps growing as long as the soil temperature stays above about 6 degrees. In Greater Stockholm that usually ends some time between 20 October and 10 November, later in the inner city than in Norrtälje or Södertälje.
A simple test: if the lawn has not needed mowing for two weeks in October, it is time for the last cut.
What height should the grass have going into winter?
Mow to 4–5 centimetres. Shorter grass has less leaf area to gather energy with and freezes more easily. Longer grass flattens under the snow and is attacked by snow mould, which shows up as round greyish-white patches in April.
Lower the height in two steps if the grass is long. Going from 8 to 4 centimetres in a single cut stresses the grass unnecessarily.
Checklist for the lawn in October
- Rake off leaves before mowing, ideally every week in October.
- Mow when the grass is dry, preferably in the middle of the day.
- Apply an autumn fertiliser rich in potassium and free of nitrogen, which strengthens the roots without driving growth.
- Aerate the lawn if the soil is compacted after a wet summer.
- Clean the lawnmower and drain the petrol before winter storage.
Lawn mowing with a seasonal contract
Service Plus Stockholm AB mows lawns across Greater Stockholm from April to November. With a seasonal contract, our lawn mower Mulle comes on set days, adjusts the cutting height to the time of year and takes the last cut at the right moment in October, so the lawn goes into winter in the best possible condition.
Lawn mowing qualifies for a RUT deduction (the Swedish tax deduction for household services) of up to 50% of the labour cost.
Common follow-up questions
Is it harmful to mow the grass too late?
Mowing on frozen ground damages the grass, because the blades break off instead of being cut. If frost has arrived early, wait for a day when the ground has thawed.
Should you leave the clippings on the lawn in autumn?
No. In autumn the clippings break down slowly and, together with leaves, form a dense layer that smothers the grass. Collect the clippings from the last few cuts.
When does the lawn mowing season start again?
In Stockholm the first cut is normally done in mid-April, when the grass has reached 6–7 centimetres and the ground bears weight without turning muddy.
