It's 41 degrees out today, here in Shreveport, LA, and my neighbor is mowing his lawn. He does this all winter long. What am I missing here???? Do people normally mow in the winter, when there's absolutely nothing growing? I'd be grateful if you can enlighten me on this subject. Thanks!

Gloria Taylor

Welcome to NGA @GloriaTaylor

I don't know why anyone would mow if the grass isn't growing - are there leaves on the ground that he is picking up with the mower? Maybe ask your neighbor?

He is an "OM", obsessive mower! They are every where. They are fairly uncommon but by no means rare!
I have known of a few in my lifetime. I always figured that it keeps them busy because they have nothing better to do.

I have one across the street here in MIchigan. It was a beautiful early May day last year, about 68 degrees or so. It was going to turn cold for the next day. Did he mow on the warm day @ 68? NOPE! He was out there the next day, the very next day mowing at 39 degrees!!! It made no sense at all. If the lawn really needed to be mowed, riding mower mind you, why not mow the day before at 68 degrees? But not this guy. To me either he mows every Tuesday whether the lawn needs it or not. OR he had something very important to do on the 68 degree day. And even if that were the case, he could have mowed that day regardless, it took him less then an hour on the mower. Or he could have waited another day until it warmed up a little but nooo, he was out there in a winter parka, with wool cap and gloves mowing in 39 degree weather! Like I said obsessive mowing.
I suggest you just chalk it up to a little brain scramble on his part.

Hi & welcome! Interesting question.

I agree with Bill that there are also OM's. And that shredding leaves is a valid reason for mowing.

There could be all sorts of stuff growing, unless it's a true monoculture of 1 kind of dormant grass. Our "lawn" has quite an assortment of grasses and other entities. The last time it was mowed was probably 2 months ago but at this point it looks shaggy and DH said he was planning to mow this weekend.

Around here people (or their yard men) plant annual rye grass which keeps their lawn green and growing in the winter - so that they can MOW it !!??

Welcome!

Well, I guess I'm a 'MO' but I will tell you Perennial Rye needs mowed. The grass grows in the PNW!! We had a warmer
January than normal.

With that stated, our new neighbor's pasture grass it well over a foot tall. They better bring in the goats to graze!! Whom in their right mind puts pasture grass in as a
lawn in the city?

Texans

porkpal said:Texans

Thanks for the laugh!

I, too, have a neighbor suffering from OM here in Georgia...

Ron

"OM" has become a very common occurrence in rural areas where we have property. Farmers with large mowers have decided that all road ditches should be mowed like lawns. Right of ways that used to support native plants that sustained wildlife are all mowed. My husband doesn't mow his right of ways but all of his neighbors mow it because they can't stand not mowing. In towns everyone competes to see who can mow the most. I have planted my whole front yard in flowers with a lot of wildflowers.

karmahappytoes said:Welcome!

Well, I guess I'm a 'MO' but I will tell you Perennial Rye needs mowed. The grass grows in the PNW!! We had a warmer
January than normal.

With that stated, our new neighbor's pasture grass it well over a foot tall. They better bring in the goats to graze!! Whom in their right mind puts pasture grass in as a
lawn in the city?

I resemble that!
Did twice in my life, once at Ma's house (got a lot of -- what kind of grass do you put on your lawn -- questions) and another time on a hill that was over fifty percent weeds and bare spots.

The last of the pasture, heavy blade low cluster grass, is far less but still around at my late Mother's place, while at the same time, same species has done a good job of stabilizing and chunk of the hill up North.

Before our Mulberry Tree went belly-up this spring, it would drop its leaves very late in the fall, November ususally and I would mow the boulevard to chop up leaves I did not get by raking.
I mowed in 40 some degree weather often.
Spring time, I waited till ground dried BUT some times there would be Evergreen cones all over and it is much easier to chop them up with a mower quicker than raking. so I was often first one out by weeks.

It's me again. 47 degrees and my fool neighbor is mowing AGAIN!! The grass is NOT growing, it's dead as dead can be, and the color of straw. TY for y'all's answers, but he's not a farmer, his yard is not a pasture, and the grass is not rye it's St Augustine, and it's not tall, it's hugging the ground. There are no leaves or pine cones on the ground. Hint - he turned 65 last year and retired. Now he has way too much time on his hands. I gotta wonder what his wife thinks of this.

Perhaps she is glad to have him out of the house.

Perhaps he's happy to be out of the house.

Win-win!

Doing nonsensical things like that & not behaving in a temperature-appropriate way are often signs of dementia (like Alzheimer's).
To be clear, I'm not being facetious. I saw very similar behaviors with a family member.

Sadly, that is very true, Danita.

and then other times, it is just people doing what people do - acting in inexplicable ways

There are some people who just enjoy riding on their riding mower more than just sitting on the couch. Gloria, is your neighbor riding or walking?

TY for your replies. To answer your questions, my neighbor is not demented, and uses a walking mower.

Exercise!

Maybe if he doesn't run it and let's it sit it's hard to start in the spring. I've had that happen. But with snow on the ground most of the winter I'm not out " mowing"!