I know the folks from Minnesota and Maine may laugh at me, but they didn't post their shock at their first surprise cold morning, and I did...

It was 38 degrees in the backyard this morning. The brass monkey had come inside to get a coat.

I am normally fine with the cold. Most times during the whole winter, all I'll wear is a heavy shirt with a vest. I can't drive with a heavy jacket on - and get in and out of the truck so many times during the day, that I hate putting one on, then taking it off constantly.

But this summer with the extreme heat may have thinned my blood a little too much. This past August while in MN it dropped down to 48 degrees one night. At 5:30 AM, outside for a smoke with coffee was CHILLY! I had to put an insulted flannel shirt on to stay outside. I was too accustomed to 90+ degrees. Might be a chilly start to winter because of this until I harden off a little, LOL!

I know here in MN they are predicting the coldest and "snowiest" winter we've had in years... Can't say I'm excited about that prediction. Especially now with my thousands of children growing in my front yard.

Cold isn't bad for lawns in my experience, with two exceptions. "Cold without Snow" is bad, and "Cold with a Snow Blanket that lasts too long" is bad. There are articles/studies that say that more than 55 days of continuous snow cover is a predictor of Snow Mold in the Spring.

A normal Winter of cold with a snow blanket that goes away occasionally is actually very good for the following year's growth.

For some damned reason, my front yard has a tendency to stay very green until about Valentine's Day, and then the grass blades "break off", leaving me with a 1/4" crewcut lawn until an April 1st green-up. It doesn't seem to hurt anything, but is Ugly when the earlier-rising lawns in the area green-up in late March.

If I remember correctly we had a snow blanket from early December through March so we are typically always well over the 55 day mark without a problem. I had a bit of snow mold this spring but it didn't seem to do all that much damage, it just kinda looked like a bunch of spider webs all over the lawn.

Ok I got a question, it may be stupid but I'm going to ask it anyways. When it snows and your shoveling your driveway whats better to shovel down to the street and build a mound near the curb or pile it up on each side of the drive and let it sit on the lawn. Just curious if its better to keep the piles off the lawn for winter or if its ok?

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This works best.

Yea I want a snow blower but I cant justify paying 500-1000 for one when we get maybe snow enough for one 4-5 times. I dont mind shoveling but it would be nice for those heavy ones. When and if we get them. It seems we keep getting less and less amounts of snow lately here. Every once in a while it will suprise us with a huge downfall. I just dont want to cause more low spots and/or issues with this reno!

andy10917 wrote:I know the folks from Minnesota and Maine may laugh at me, but they didn't post their shock at their first surprise cold morning, and I did...

It was 38 degrees in the backyard this morning. The brass monkey had come inside to get a coat.

Like smelling baseball in the air in spring, I can smell football in the air now. Crisp mornings, the smell of burning leaves, I love fall. Plus the roots love it as well and it's FEEDIN' TIME!!!


BTW This is the 1st fall in 11 years where the house is kid free during the day (I work virtual)