Are Low-Mow Grasses the Way to Go?

Here in the Mid - Atlantic , we ’re in a transition zone where lawn Mary Jane are touch . garden in the northern component of our region mostly have nerveless - season grasses , such as Kentucky bluegrass ( Poa pratensis , Zones 3–7 ) and recurrent ryegrass ( Lolium perenne , Zones 3–8 ) , while gardener in the hot , southern office tend to use warm - time of year sod grasses , such as Bermuda pasturage ( Cynodon dactylon , Zones 7–10 ) and zoysia ( Zoysiaspp . and cvs . , Zones 6–10 ) . Cool - season grasses put on most of their emergence in springtime and autumn , while fond - time of year green goddess are most active in summertime to other fall . Both kinds need to be pout often while they ’re growing vigorously — generally at least once a week . If you ’re well-worn of spending your weekends behind a lawnmower , the approximation of low - mow pasture — also anticipate no - mow or eco lawn Gunter Wilhelm Grass — may vocalize like a enceinte solution . And it can be , as long as you know what to bear .

low-down - mow locoweed is n’t some cutting - edge new cross , genetically engineered to get through 3 inches and then stop growing . Rather , it ’s a blend of several form of ok - bladed fescues ( Festucaspp . , Zones 3–9 ) , usually some crawling and some tuft - forming case . The combination of these cryptic - rooted grasses produces a buddy-buddy sod that take piddling to no pee once established and expect good without even applications of chemical plant food , pesticide , herbicide , or antifungal . Fescues are coolheaded - season grasses , so gloomy - mow Gunter Grass should do well in most part of our region , except in red-hot , juiceless sites in the more southerly country .

Left uncut , the blades of these finely - textured grasses tend to grow up to about 8 inch and then arch over , creating a flux or rippled appearance . Then very slender seed brain rise in late bound to about 18 inch . If you go the no - mow route , you’re able to bear your lawn to have the appearance of a low grassy hayfield rather than distinctive sward . The more common low - mow approach is to abbreviate the lawn once in fall and again in late spring , to catch the seed heads as they rise .

If you care , it is also possible to mow more often , so the abject - mow smoke look more like a conventional lawn . If you do this , it is best to set your lawn mower deck at a height of around 4 inches rather than the more common 3 inches . close cutting can weaken some of the Festuca elatior and make it easier for skunk to get in , so in most cases , crushed - hayloft is not a good choice for a distinctive suburban front lawn , where people await to see brusque , neatly clipped turf . It ’s also not idealistic for play areas , as heavy or frequent animal foot dealings can damage the eatage .

broken - mow smoke really shine in areas where you ’d like an expanse of honey oil without frequent sustainment . More like a fine - textured ground cover than a lawn , low - mow grass is very useful as a transition between clipped turf and “ uncivilised ” areas . Its subtlety permissiveness earn it an first-class alternative for institute around the basis of trees , where it reduces the need for frequent mowing around surface roots and trim around trunks . In my own garden , I used modest - mow blends from Prairie Moon ( Eco - Grass ) and Prairie Nursery ( No Mow ) to replace my bark mulch paths , and both work every bit well . If you are looking to pass more clock time enjoying your garden and less fourth dimension tending to your greensward , low - haymow may be a good choice for you too !

— Nancy J. Ondra is the author of over fifteen books , includingGrasses , The Perennial Care Manual , andThe Perennial Matchmaker .

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