The Natural Growth of Your Lawn: What Happens if You Don’t Mow It
The age-old process! Just like what happened for thousands of years, grass that isn’t eaten by animals grows to its natural height and goes to seed. Lightning strikes, followed by prairie fires, were common occurrences that shaped landscapes. Indians, or Native Americans, sometimes set prairie fires intentionally to drive bison over cliffs.
What Happens When You Don’t Mow Your Lawn?
When you stop mowing your lawn, the grass will grow long and start producing seeds. Depending on the variety, it may clump or form tufts. The lower parts of the grass will not receive sunlight, becoming very pale, often appearing white or yellow. When you finally decide to cut it, the grass will appear yellow and white, not solid green.
Lawns are typically only a couple of inches deep, as this is the optimal height for maintaining manageable landscaping. Long grass, like that seen at the side of roads, is essentially a lawn that has been left unmowed.
Left to its own devices, the grass will grow tall, seed, and eventually look faded and unkempt. While wild grass can look beautiful and tall, lawn grass is best maintained and cut often to keep it neat and tidy. This is how we control it to achieve the aesthetic of a well-groomed lawn.
Implications of Unmowed Grass in Acreage or Meadows
On larger properties, unmowed grass will transform into meadows. These meadows, while beautiful, are often disliked by city people and bureaucrats due to lower property tax assessments.
What a meadow might look like is shown in the picture. Note that the house in the picture is boarded up, indicating potential neglect. In some areas, local authorities may send notices or even cut the grass for you when bills accumulate and notices are ignored.
Effects on Planting and Wildlife
Left unattended, plants naturally reach their full length and maturity. Grass will eventually produce seeds, similar to wheat stalks, which will fall to the ground either by bird or climate conditions. Once on the ground, they will germinate in much the same way as other plants.
Over time, if left uncut, the grass may become coarser and more vulnerable. Additionally, long grass can provide visual cover for rodents, making your property more attractive to these pests.
If left for long enough, the lawn will eventually go to seed, lose its vigor, and be overtaken by weeds. Soon, the grass will die out, replaced by a yard of weeds.