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The Deep Middle


Gardening & writing in the prairie echo

Letting Your Lawn Go is Not the Answer

3/9/2022

15 Comments

 
You want to help the environment, pollute less, use less resources, and create resilient habitat that's pleasing to both wildlife and people -- and often that means rethinking the lawn. But what happens when you let your lawn go or stop mowing?

  1. It's going to look weedy fast. Without design intention your neighbors will be less apt to get on board.
  2. Invasive species may establish. What's in the weed seed bank? You don't know. Could be some native plants -- likely aggressive seeders -- definitely going to be aggressive exotics.
  3. Woody plants will move in. Without constant management tree seedlings will start to grow. This could be an issue if you live on a small lot or in an area where forests aren't a habitat type.

The point of this post is not to push you to some hyperbole, like "well then what should we do, slather the lawn in chemicals?" It's to get you to think intentionally about your space -- from design to succession, to what you ideally want to happen and to the big leaps your neighbors will have to make when you break from the status quo.

Over the years much has been shared on this website about designing a landscape -- from plant selection (sociability and size) to plant succession over time. When you let your lawn go or stop mowing, there's seldom a plan that takes into consideration management or neighbors. So if you let your lawn go, think hard about a management plan that takes into consideration your ecoregion and lot size, as well as your environmental and community goals. And know your plants.

If we're not working smartly with a plan and a goal, then we're just being lazy and ideologically polarizing for no reason. That's not helpful or neighborly.

15 Comments
Mary Vukelich
4/2/2022 08:51:45 am

We are looking for more substantive content about how to transition away from a (large) mowed lawn. We don't have neighbors to worry about but do want to do strategically. Any resources?

Reply
Benjamin
4/2/2022 08:52:54 am

Do a word search on this website. Lots of info.

Reply
Janet Glaspie
4/2/2022 09:21:08 am

What climate zone/state are you in?

Reply
Ronda Stevens
4/2/2022 09:08:52 am

I don’t see a “Search” symbol. How can I do a word search as you suggest?

Reply
Benjamin
4/2/2022 09:30:03 am

Bottom right of page

Reply
Benjamin Vogt
4/2/2022 09:36:20 am

Guys -- I have many blog posts on the topic, a 30 minute free YouTube vid, and under "Garden Guides" in the tab a downloadable PDF. :)

Reply
Mark
4/3/2022 08:03:35 am

Hi Benjamin, this makes a lot of sense. I'm wondering what your thoughts are on "No Mow May" where you don't mow for the month of May and let dandelions and other "weeds" grow to help pollinators in the spring. The NY Times had an article: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/03/28/travel/no-mow-may-wisconsin.html

I know that the better option would be to get rid of the lawn completely and grow native perennials, but I'm wondering if this would be a good idea for the parts of the lawn that one still has left (while still having the goal of eventually getting rid of it). It's free and requires no work. Given that it is only for one month, do the considerations that you outline in this post still apply if the neighbors are on board? Is there a danger of exotic invasives to get a foothold even if it will be mowed after the month of May?

That NY Times article was pretty persuasive so I'm just curious what your thoughts are. Thanks

Reply
Benjamin Vogt
4/3/2022 10:06:09 am

Yeah, I pretty much wrote this short post in response to that article. Mow less, it's a great idea and a baby step for helping folks transition, but it also has a host of caveats. Invasive or aggressive exotic weeds -- hello creeping charlie -- are certainly an issue when not beat back or removed. And dandelions are not a great source of nutrition; sure, let's leave them and use them as green mulch and to aerate compacted soils, but let's not fool ourselves in thinking their pollen and nectar is anywhere near as good as a bevy of native species (search this website for a post on this with alternative native species to try).

Reply
Dour Rankin link
4/3/2022 11:10:23 am

I'm in the process of planting low groundcovers instead of grass, but wonder if it's sensible to include larval host plants? Is it wise to include these plants when butterflies could lay eggs there then the eggs and larval could be squished by foot traffic across this "lawn" area?

Reply
Benjamin
4/3/2022 11:18:27 am

Nature red in tooth and claw. Don't overthink it. What's better -- lawn or larval host plants, knowing that not every plant will be stepped on and at least something is there, if even on the margins of an oft-traveled walkway.

Reply
Carla D’Anna
7/27/2022 03:28:22 pm

I’ve been thinking how non native lawn itself is invasive. The vector is the mammal humans. So yes, we have to consider our neighbors and have an acceptable plan but creeping Charlie is no worse than imported grasses.

Reply
Nick Dallege
8/28/2022 10:51:46 pm

Hey Benjamin, Love the post! I agree completely. One question on point 2-3... what is to be done about woody exotics in native plant beds? We get various kinds of Honeysuckle all over in my area. Do I hunt and peck for them in the spring when things are fairly low? Is it practical to do small controlled burns? Do the taller native plant beds (4ft+) do a better job of preventing these species from seeding in the first place?

Reply
Benjamin
8/29/2022 03:06:02 pm

I'd treat wood invasives now as they start storing up for winter. Cut them low and dab with a foaming herbicide so it soaks in.

Reply
Thomas Clarence link
1/11/2023 02:52:26 pm

It was interesting when you mentioned that invasive species may take over if you let your lawn go. I would think that a lot of people let their lawns go because they have a large property that becomes overwhelming. Using a riding lawn mower seems like a good way to keep yard maintenance from becoming overwhelming.

Reply
Steve Rothe
3/25/2023 05:08:58 am

I've read a logical argument that suggests we would use a lot of mowing and other energy "recovering" a lawn after a month of not mowing, and it could stress the lawn. And really, how many flowers are you going to have in your lawn even if you don't mow? To help spring bees, we can plant spring ephemerals, Virginia bluebells, Virginia waterleaf, pasque flowers, and trees and shrubs that bloom early. Even wind pollinated trees and shrubs can provide bees a pollen food source.

Reply



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    Benjamin Vogt's thoughts on prairie gardening in Nebraska. With a healthy dose of landscape ethics, ecophilosophy, climate change,  and social justice.

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