Good Questions: Grass Cutting, Campaign Money, Pre-Winter Raking
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Wayne from Brainerd asks: How short should you cut your grass before winter?
University of Minnesota Extension turf expert Sam Bauer says three inches is a good cut year-around.
"There's an old misconception, people used to think you should scalp your lawn before going into winter," Bauer said. "But to me, the scalping of the lawn is a little too much of a stress. I prefer that 3, 2-and-a-half inch."
He also recommends people continue to mow their lawn as long as the grass is still growing.
Brian from Maple Grove wants to know: What happens to leftover campaign money?
When it comes to expensive presidential campaigns, there is usually not much money left. What still remains generally goes toward unpaid bills or debts. The Federal Election Commission requires leftover campaign money follow the same rules as during the campaign.
The money, with some limitations, can be donated to charities, political parties or other candidates. Candidates cannot put any of the money to personal use.
Barbara from St. Paul asks: What would happen if you didn't rake or mulch your leaves before winter?
"They would smother your lawn," Bauer said. "You'd get snow mold for sure because the leaves act as an incubation chamber for snow mold fungus."
The grass also will not have any sunlight available to it in the spring when it wants to start growing again. Bauer recommends people aim to see 90- to 95-percent of their lawns before going into winter.
He suggests people mulch the leaves through the fall, then bag them in the last two or three mows of the season.
