In my area(Delaware) thinsg slow down dramaticly around the last week in October. Then just the highly maintained (fertilized) lawns need cuting.

 

Actually its the decrease in solar radiation which causes the grass to stop growing, that and frozen ground...

Weekly cuttings here in southern new england stop around last week of october, then maybe two more cuttings (depending on leaf cover, snowfall) til thanksgiving when the mower retired to the back of the garage.

 

As long as it stays above 52 and the lawn is watered and fertilized, there is no off season in south Fla. We slow down to twice monthly till March. Then it's crazy time till the end of November.

 

About the middle of november depending on the weather.
This year will be early.

Kyle

 

Our seasonal contracts expire the last week of October. After that its $xx.xx/cut. Usually have a number of lawns to cut for the first couple weeks of November followed by fall cleanups.

 

I would love to mow until the end of November and keep the extra income flowing. However, I don't know about you all, but I'm ready for winter. I need a break where I can return to a 24 work week.

 

Octember 45th is somewhere between October 30th and November 15th. It depends on how warm it stays here in the Chicago area, if it was fertilized and watered or amount of rain.

 

In southeast Louisiana, I cut weekly from about April 1st, until around mid October, then go every other week until about Christmas. Then it's once every 3 to 4 weeks until mid to late Feb. which starts every other week until April. Unless we have a cold winter and we wouldn't cut as often from Nov. to March, but we've had mild winters for the past few years.

Bobby

 

here in MO i mow 32+ - weeks a year, the leaf season(part of the 32) lasts untill about mid december. 2 years ago we mowed up untill x-mass on most lawns. Last year it was a but sooner.

 

Guys and any gals thanks for the posts!!!

 

When do all of you start to drop your blades down to keep the leaves from sticking in the grass.

 

We got abiut 1 more week of mowing then our fall cleanups begain then plowing.

 

We keep our blades up to try to "bleed" as many cuts out as possible. Then we drop them. As far as how long this lasts, usually into mid Nov., but last year we were doing cleanups right up to the beginning of December. It's STILL too soon to quit for me! Does anyone down in Florida or somewhere warm need any good help this winter? 20+ years experience. w/college education and management skills.

 

I am in Northern-central Indiana. We too usually go until late October or mid November on most yards. Had a few commercial accounts last year that I mowed right before Christmas!

As far as the current cool temps, do not despair, we have Indian Summer yet. Besides the other day was only the first day of Autumn.

 

"When do all of you start to drop your blades down to keep the leaves from sticking in the grass."

Now. The leaves are starting to change so the lower cut makes the lawns look neater, esp after a wind.

 

I noticed several of you stated temps, as a factor in in the grass to keep growing, one said 52 degrees..If the daytime temps stay over 52...grass keeps growing...how much does morning frost come into play.......or I guess the real question is what causes the grass to stop growing...and what temps are needed to keep it growing...we have recently seen 3+ inches or rain..plenty of mosture around..and all lawns are fertilized. THANKS!!!!

 

Thelawnguy answered those questions. The amount of daily sunlight is what makes most plants go through their natural changes (plants flowering, trees dropping leaves, grass going dormant etc.) & not really temps. If it gets cold enough to freeze the soil, then plants will go dormant regardless of the other factors. So if you have nice daytime temps with out the soil freezing, the grass will continue to grow, just at a much slower pace with the reduced sunlight of fall & winter.

 

i run the mower for leaves until feb. then a couple a weeks later it starts all over again. i leave the blades up so to keep the ground as warm as posssible though our winter months....yea winter in mid ga thats a laugh.......

 

Our busiest time is around christmas. We slow down a fair bit around august-september. Still have enough to keep me entertained though. No snow to plow over here!

Karl

 

Karl,

What Territory are you in? Had a chance to visit Queensland when I was stationed on Okinawa, but never got around to doing it. It's one of my few regrets. Hopefully soon though.

 

Location:Brisbane Australia

 

Here in central Florida I mow weekly from April thru October then bi-weekly from November thru March. It'ds been a long hot summer and I keep saying to myself while I mow "hurry November, hurry November etc."

 

We get to work the whole year, but lose up to 30 days due to rain and every blue moon snow. Things slow down for us around mid November through mid March. Things don't freeze very often here in the San Frnacisco Bay Area, always something to do.
John

 

I stop mowing when the snow falls & then I just put on the bagger .
Seriously, we usually have a snow before we get the final leaf dropping in late fall. We are usually still finishing up in late Nov./Early Dec. here in Ohio.
3 years ago we had 50's & 60's (& I was raking leaves again) in mid January!

 

Never.

Like Gus, I live in the Central Coast of California and our season simply never ends. Oh, growth slows down from November through February, but there's always spurts of green even in those months when the warm, California sunshine breaks through the winter rains.

It's got it's drawbacks, though. After all, who wouldn't mind spending three months a year fishing off the Keys with Mr. Stone while you wait for the growing season again...

-TGC