What is a Low Mow Lawn?

If you’re tired of spending your weekends behind a lawnmower, the idea of low mow grass—also called no-mow or eco lawn grass—may sound like a great solution. And it can be, if you know what to expect. What is a low mow seed mix? This isn’t a category of cutting-edge new hybrids, genetically engineered to reach 3 inches and then stop growing. Rather, a low-mow mix is generally a blend of multiple varieties of fine-bladed fescues, usually some creeping and some tuft-forming types. The combination of these deep-rooted grasses produces a thick turf that is more drought tolerant than your average Kentucky Bluegrass lawn. This kind of fescue lawn needs little to no water once established and looks good without regular applications of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, herbicides, or fungicides. Fescues are cool-season, slow growing grasses, so most low-mow grass mixes should generally do well throughout the uppermost and mid sections of the US. with less success in hot, dry sites and the more southerly areas. They require less maintenance than traditional turf grass, and their slow growth helps to reduce erosion, reduce run-off, lower chemical inputs and emissions, offer greater sustainability and promote healthy biodiversity. Left uncut, the blades of these fine-textured grasses tend to grow up to about 8 inches and then arch over, creating a flowing or rippled appearance. Then very slender seed heads rise in late spring to about 18 inches. If you go the no-mow route, you can expect your lawn to have the appearance of a low grassy meadow rather than typical turf. The more common low-mow approach is to cut the lawn once in fall and again in late spring, to catch the seed heads as they rise. If you wish, it is also possible to mow more often, so the low-mow grass looks more like a conventional lawn. If you do this, it is best to cut down to a height of around 4 inches rather than the more usual 3 inches. Closer cutting can weaken some of the fescues and make it easier for weeds to get in, so in most cases, low mow is not a good choice for a typical suburban front lawn, where people expect to see short, neatly clipped turf. It’s also not ideal for play areas, as heavy or frequent foot traffic can damage the grass. These grasses really shine in areas where you’d like an expanse of green without frequent maintenance. More like a fine-textured ground cover than a lawn, it is very useful as a transition between clipped turf and “wild” areas. Its shade tolerance makes it a great choice for planting around the base of trees, where it reduces the need for frequent mowing around surface roots and trimming around trunks. If you are looking to spend more time enjoying your garden and less time tending to your turf, low mow may be a good choice for you too!