this post was submitted on 17 Oct 2023
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I don't mow my lawn.
Fully invested in the no lawn movement, I've been slowly replacing my grass with "no-mow" fine fescue grasses that fall over when they grow long instead of standing up straight. They grow slowly and are meant to not be mowed most of the summer season, just a couple times in the spring and cut down low in the fall.
Between that and using shredded leaves as mulch in my flower beds or lasagna mulching to create a new flower bed, my neighbors definitely think I'm a bit off.
I like this, we don't mow often, and have 6 sheep that keep, not only the paddocks, but the back lawn short-ish
I got some crocus bulbs to plant in my lawn that I'm hoping work out. We have been adding clover seeds to bare spots, too, and we have a lot of wild strawberries (which I never get to eat because the birds get them first). I don't care at all for perfectly manicured lawns. I don't think my neighbours mind, though, since none of them have perfect lawns, either.
I once tried not mowing my lawn for a few months for the same reasons, and I ended up with a notice from the city, citing a municipal law that my grass and herbs can't be taller than 30cm, and that I would receive a fine at the next offence.
Note that there is no lawn police in my city, and this is the result of a neighbour's complaint.
The kind of grass I'm growing doesn't get that high except a couple weeks in the spring when it's going to seed. The rest of the time falls over and lays down, looking like a wind-swept meadow, so the overall height is no more than around 15cm. High enough that you couldn't see my shoes, but it looks relatively well-kept.
Here's some pictures of this kind of grass. It has some limitations on what kind of conditions it grows well in, but there are several different similar species that gives options.
https://www.prairienursery.com/resources-guides/no-mow-image-gallery/
There are also options to replace grass with other low ground cover plants like clover or thyme. And also definitely, you should work to change your local ordinances on pawn maintenance to be more eco-friendly.
Some folks in the state of Maryland, US accomplished getting their ordinances changed recently: https://www.wusa9.com/article/tech/science/environment/maryland-couple-fights-hoa-rules-on-grass-lawns/65-d87be2e2-a109-4b7d-99fa-7497b91c7347
Looks good! Mine is regular grass and I didn't intend to let it grow forever, just for No Mow May, and see what happened. My neighbour is a lawn freak and I heard her scream to her husband that she won't let me ruin her 25 years of hard work. Her lawn is "perfect", not a dandelion. She really hates me cause I let the dandelion grow on my lawn.
I sprinkle my lawn with white clove seeds every now and then, its starting to take over the grass. It's going to be lovely.
I talked with my neighbourhood representative at the city hall, and she told me a lot of people in their municipal party are doing No Mow May. They are a new municipal government and they can't tell blue collars not to apply the city rules. They need to change the rules, and they will, but it takes time.
Thanks for the link!
I never understood the obsession people have with mowning lawn. I find higher lawn to look better, greener. It's way less common to mow in europe where we have grass similar to what you are describing that don't need to be mowned.
And the fact that people can call the police for that and that home owner association can require you to do it is even weirder.