No-Mow Grass? It's True and It's All Natural

As Americans, we are always looking for an easier way. Another thing that distinguishes us is our pride in our space. Not just housing space, but our outdoor areas. There are thousands of fights going on right now in American suburbs over who has the best lawn. There is now a way to have the best lawn with a minimal amount of effort. It's just a matter of the right breed of grass. In recent years, seed and sod companies have perfected the "No-Mow" grass.

No-mow is not artificial turf as the name seems to imply. It is a living, breathing grass that provides great cover without growth. There have been reports since spring 2006 about genetically engineered no-mow grasses using what is called the brassinosteroid path to miniaturize grasses so they will not grow beyond a certain height, however, there are naturally occurring grasses that have been bred with a little help from to do the same thing without genetic engineering, cell splicing, or DNA modification.

Naturally occurring no-mow grasses are known as fine fescue grasses of the genus Festuca. As reported by Bill Sloey of Wild Ones at www.for-wild.org , the fescues are "slow growing, narrow leafed grasses with blades that are very lax and flexuous." These grasses lay flat by mid summer and are naturally occurring in the Northeast and upper Midwest.

The fescues can be bought in special blends made for lawns that provide uniform cover and no clumping. A couple place to buy these blends are the Praire Nursery of Westfield Wisconsin at www.prairienursery.com and http://nomowgrass.com . Both of these blends will give your lawn a wonderful cover that stays green throughout winter but it will turn brown in the spring when the new growth starts.

Benefits of no-mow are the reduction of labor, they are hardier and require less water, they do not need fertilizers of any sort, they are very easy to maintain and to plant. No-mow can be planted over existing grasses or on bare soil. The best time to plant is in the autumn around Labor Day.

While the no-mow fine fescues only grow around 3-6 inches, they are more supple in the shade. If in direct sunlight they will tend to be a little thicker and flower early. If you have plenty of shade trees, then this is the perfect grass for you. It may still be better than your regular grass now even if you do not have adequate shading. It is definitely worth looking into. Don't be discouraged if they are not carried at your local nursery. The seed may have to be bought online or special ordered.