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Cut your lawn a bit shorter before the winter, typically between 2 and 2½ inches, depending on the variety of grass. On average, the best height to cut grass typically falls between 2 and 3 inches throughout the year. Aim for the shorter side of this range when you mow for the last time of the year to avoid common winter lawn diseases and moisture issues.

Signs of an overwatered lawn can be visual, physical, or related to pests and weeds. Visually, the grass may appear yellow, wilted, patchy, or thin instead of green and lush. You might also notice the presence of mushrooms, other fungal growths, or an increase in weeds like crabgrass. Physically, the soil may be waterlogged, soggy, and perpetually damp. An overwatered lawn often feels mushy or makes a squishing sound underfoot, even several hours after watering. Additionally, you may see an increase in pests such as grubs. To prevent overwatering, ensure your lawn has proper drainage through periodic aeration and adjust your watering schedule to meet its actual needs.

Too much clover in your lawn can indicate several issues with your soil. Clover can thrive in soils with abnormally high pH, low-cut grass, and low nitrogen. Amending these issues can push clover out for good.

Hardy perennial clover loves the low nitrogen and compact conditions that often come with poor, infertile soils. But other factors also contribute to a clover explosion, including drought conditions, cool temperatures, under fertilization, and over-irrigation. You’ll need to evaluate all these elements when planning to kill off the clover.

The American ideal of a large, perfectly-manicured lawn is tied to the post-World War II suburban housing boom. In the decades that followed, technological advances made self-propelled mowers more affordable and plentiful. Many Americans came to see reel mowers as old-fashioned, inconvenient, and time-consuming, and they eventually fell out of fashion.