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The daytime of perfectly manicured turfgrass lawn might be coming to a conclusion as no - mow grass alternatives become more commonplace . Instead of spending Saturday mow grass , imagine being free for other activities . Numerous no - mow grasses and grass option can form an attractive lawn . Native turfgrasses and drought - kind pasturage thin the amount of maintenance — such as mop , lachrymation , fertilizing , and weeding — required to keep them looking good .
ExtendNo - Mow May , designed to provide food and shelter to pollinator , by planting a healthier no - mow pasturage lawn .
Photo: ptlawnseed.com
link : I Let My Lawn Grow for No Mow May — Here ’s What Happened
What Is No-Mow Grass?
No - mow grass , aka eco - lawn , typically comprise of a portmanteau of hard and finecool - season fescues(which uprise in almost all areas of the U.S. except for Zones 8 to 10 ) . This blend make a lush , slurred lawn that require only infrequent grass mowing . Be sure tomow at a tiptop of 4 inchesor more to ward off stressing the root . Because it develops a dense root system of rules , fescue rarely needs weeding or lachrymation once established .
In addition to fescues , other low - maintenance green goddess include buffalo grass , a slowly - growing grass for southern and plains states ; zoysia , another easy - acquire grass nonpareil for sunny to fond shade surface area ; and Korean velvet locoweed , suitable for side and loamy territory . trefoil , sedge , carpeting grass , and evenmossmay operate for some outer space and environment .
Benefits of a No-Mow Grass Lawn
In addition to bring through clock time — and fuel and emissions — by not needing to mow your lawn ( at least not very often ) , a no - mow lawn extend other vantage over a traditional turfgrass lawn . Some of the benefits let in :
How to Plant No-Mow Grass
Planting a no - haymow lawn is n’t much dissimilar than establishing a traditional turfgrass lawn . As with most type of lawn , these are best planted in spring or former fall . Spring typically sees more filth moisture , but fall often has temperate temperature , fewer weeds , and can receive a peck of rain .
1. Preparing the ground
Whether you use no - mow superoxide dismutase or no - mow grass seed , start with a clean ticket by getting free of any existing grass and weeds so they wo n’t compete with your young lawn . This can be done by placing black credit card , plywood , or carpeting over the area — a “ smother cover”—for an intact grow time of year , turn over up the sod , using an herbicide , or cultivating and till tokill the lawn .
2. Grading
A delicately graded , politic , level soil control surface will encourage seeded player - to - grime middleman . If using a programme or drip seeder to spread seed , follow by raking the seeded player into lightly tilled stain .
No - till drillers and slit - seeders also benefit from a smooth , storey surface , but tilling is n’t needed unless the ground is particularly rough . However , all remaining dead flora and John Rock should be slay before plant to fend off clogging the machine .
3. Planting
Sow seedsat a rate of 7 pounds per 1,000 square feet using a broadcast or drop spreader or mechanical slit seeder . Cover with ⅛ to ¼ in of soil . utilize a curler or other implement to firm the seed in the soil . cover song lightly with mulch so that at least one-half of the territory is visible through the mulch stratum .
Alternatively , spray seed mixed with water in a hydroseeder onto the soil . It should be apply at the same rate of 7 pounds per 1,000 substantial base , or 10 to 11 pound per 1,000 straight foot if using hydromulch ( a mixture of water , fiber mulch , and an adhesive material to help foreclose ejaculate erosion ) .
Maintaining a No-Mow Grass Lawn
To boost sprouting and emergence of a new lawn , water every other day for 4 to 6 week . If the soil is dry or recent - spring temperature are high , this is particularly important . Once root have taken hold , occasional thick soaking is recommended ( as opposed to frequent light watering ) . This facilitate promote bass antecedent growth .
Fertilizing is not notify , and plant food with nitrogen are expressly cautioned against . No - mow lawn are cultivated to hold out weeds and promote development , so neither fertilizer nor weed control chemicals should be necessary .
You may need tomow only a duad time a time of year . It ’s recommended to mow in June , when fescue grass produces seed heads . If you trust a manicure look rather than a born one , mow your new lawn once a month through the growing season , but set the mower pinnacle at 4 inches . Mowing it shorter than that can damage the roots and undermine the Gunter Grass . Never remove more than the top one - third of leafy outgrowth or you risk harming the forage .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Only in tardy nightfall , when the growing season is ending , should you mop scurvy . cut down to 2 inches in November canreduce thatch buildupand remove dead leaves , resulting in a full , denser lawn in the give . Using amulching moweror rake fallen leaves prevent them from smothering the grass .
Our Best Advice for Beginner Gardeners
We ’ll help you set up your first garden — whether that ’s a few pots on your terrace , a arouse bed , or an in - flat coat plot out back — and select the good industrial plant for your stain and region .
Photo: istockphoto.com
Photo: istockphoto.com
