But the intelligent lawn lover begins to consider exactly when that final mowing will be well in advance of it actually happening.

You’ll want your grass to be the shortest of the entire season by the time it begins to go dormant so the base of the grass can receive as much sun exposure as possible.

Getting to that lower than usual height should be gradual to reduce the stress on the grass plant.  Begin the process by lowering your mower blade by 1/3” each time you mow until you reach a well-cropped height (not below 2 ½ in).   Make sure your mower blade is clean and sharp for the best results.