When to Stop Mowing Your Lawn in Sudbury (and How Short to Cut the Last One)

In Sudbury, stop mowing when the grass stops growing. That happens once daytime highs stay below 10°C (50°F). Sudbury's normal daily high is 10.3°C in October and 2.6°C in November, so most lawns slow down through October and stop by early November. Keep cutting while it still grows. Make the last cut about 6 cm (2.5 inches) tall, and clear the leaves before snow comes.

How do you know your grass has stopped growing?

Don't go by the calendar. Go by the grass. Iowa State University's lawn experts put it simply: keep mowing until the grass stops growing in the fall. Cool-season grass, like Kentucky bluegrass, stops growing when daytime highs stay below 10°C.

Here's an easy test. Cut the lawn, then walk it again a week later. Does it look about the same? Then growth has stopped, and you can put the mower away. If it looks shaggy again, it still needs a cut.

One warm week can wake the grass back up. So one cold snap is not the signal. Look for a steady run of cool days where the highs stay under 10°C.

When does that usually happen in Sudbury?

Environment and Climate Change Canada keeps long-term weather normals for the Sudbury airport. They show how fast things cool off here in the fall:

Month	Normal daily high	Nights at or below 0°C	Normal snowfall
September	18.1°C	about 1	almost none
October	10.3°C	about 12	5.7 cm
November	2.6°C	about 25	29.6 cm

September is still full mowing weather. October sits right on the 10°C line, so growth slows down through the month. By November, the normal high is far below 10°C, and the grass is done.

The average first fall frost at the airport is October 1. Frost alone doesn't end the season, though. Grass often keeps growing on mild afternoons after a frosty night. Watch the daytime highs, not the first frost.

Your street may run a bit warmer or colder than the airport. The test above works on any lot, from Minnow Lake to Valley East.

How short should the last cut of the year be?

The City of Greater Sudbury says to cut grass to 6 to 8 cm (2.5 to 3 inches). It also says never to cut off more than one third of the blade at once. That rule matters most at the end of the season.

For the last cut, aim for the low end of that range, about 6 cm (2.5 inches). Iowa State says the same for fall: in mid to late September, lower the deck from 7.5 to 9 cm (3 to 3.5 inches) down to 6 to 7.5 cm (2.5 to 3 inches).

Why not just scalp it short?

A very short cut can take off more than a third in one pass. That shocks the grass right before winter. Drop the deck one notch at a time over your last two or three cuts instead. That way no single cut takes too much.

Why not leave it long?

Long grass bends over under snow and mats down. The University of Saskatchewan says lawns left long and matted over winter are more likely to get snow mould. That's the white, grey or pink fuzz you may see in spring when the snow melts. Sudbury gets about 263 cm of snow in a normal year, so this is a real risk here.

One more tip from the City: sharpen your mower blade once a year. A dull blade tears the grass instead of cutting it. The City says torn grass is more open to disease.

What about all the fall leaves?

Leaves are the other half of the last cut. A thick layer blocks light. Iowa State says that stops the grass from making and storing food before winter. It can leave dead patches in spring. The University of Saskatchewan also lists leftover leaf litter as a cause of snow mould.

You have two good options:

• Mulch them. A mulching mower can chop leaves small enough to fall down between the grass blades. When you're done, you should barely see any leaves.
• Collect them. Rake, blow or bag them with the mower, then set them out for pickup.
• Do it often. Mowing works best when the leaf layer is thin and dry. If it's thick, go over it more than once.

In a yard with big maples, you may need to mow for leaves even after the grass has stopped growing. That's normal. Your last "mow" might be more of a leaf pass than a grass cut.

How does Sudbury pick up grass clippings and leaves?

Sudbury makes this part easy. The City picks up leaf and yard trimmings at the curb all year. There's no special fall blitz to wait for. Pickup is every other week on your regular collection day, and there's no limit on how much you put out.

Here are the rules to follow so your pile gets taken:

• Use compostable paper yard bags. The City won't take leaves or clippings in plastic bags.
• Keep each bag, bundle or container under 18 kg (40 lb).
• Tie branches in bundles with natural twine or string. Keep bundles under 1.2 m (4 feet) long and 60 cm (24 inches) wide.
• You can use your own bin with a City label. Call or chat with 311 for a free one.
• Bag leaves when they're dry. Wet leaves are heavy and can tear the bag.

Grass clippings, leaves and hedge trimmings are all on the City's accepted list. So one fall cleanup can clear the whole yard in one go.

Does Sudbury's long grass by-law still apply in the fall?

Yes. Sudbury's Clearing of Yards By-law 2009-101 says grass, weeds and plants must stay no taller than 20 cm (about 8 inches). That rule runs from June 1 to December 1.

So you can't just stop in September and let the lawn go. If a warm fall keeps it growing, keep cutting. In a normal year, grass at 6 to 8 cm won't come close to 20 cm before it stops growing. But a long, mild fall and a skipped month can add up. You can read more about local rules on our Sudbury lawn care page.

What should you do after the last cut?

Once the grass has stopped, a few small jobs set you up for spring:

• Walk the yard and pick up sticks, toys and hoses. Snow hides them until spring.
• Rake or mulch any leaves that fell after your last pass.
• Sweep clippings off the driveway and walks.
• Get the mower blade sharpened now, so it's ready in May.
• Trim back any long grass along fences and beds that the mower missed.

That last one is easy to skip. The strip along a fence often stays long all winter. A quick pass with a trimmer fixes it. See what's included in trimming and edging.

Weeds showing up in the fall? Our partner crews don't spray, and we don't give advice on weed killers or other chemicals.

Can someone else handle the last cuts and the leaves?

Yes. Late fall is when a lot of people run out of time. The grass needs one or two more cuts, the maples drop everything at once, and the days get short.

Golden Oak Lawn Care matches you with a vetted, insured local crew in Sudbury. They do the work. We stand behind it with the Golden Oak Guarantee. Your crew can do your regular mowing right up to the last cut. They can also do a fall cleanup to clear leaves and bag them the way the City wants.

We price every lawn by its size from satellite images, so no one has to come by. You get your price by text in 60 minutes. You keep the same crew every visit, and they text you a photo after every cut. If you book the season through the Worry-Free Lawn Season, your first cut is free.

Want it handled? Get your price in 60 minutes, or call 1-866-904-LAWN.

Sudbury Fall Mowing Questions

Rules change, so check with the City before you plan. Sources: Clearing of Yards By-law, City lawn care tips, leaf and yard trimmings, Sudbury climate normals, Iowa State fall lawn care, Iowa State: when to stop mowing, USask snow mould.