Tropical Style

Grass That Does Not Require Mowing

With feeding, watering and mowing, taking care of your yard may be a time-intensive commitment. If you’re tired of this, or simply want to create a more natural-looking yard, grass varieties which don’t need mowing provide a sensible solution. No-mow grasses work since they grow quite slowly during the mowing season plus they reach a maximum height which does not require mowing.

Buffalograss

Buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides) is a drought-resistant, low-growing grass from the North American Plains. It produces a gray-green turf which, when given minimum watering, grows 4 inches tall, and with heavier watering, just 6 inches tall. Buffalograss spreads by stolons and is hardy to U.S. Department of Agriculture plant hardiness zones 5 through 8. It may handle foot traffic, however, has low shade tolerance. If needed, buffalograss may be mowed at end of winter to eliminate brown, dead foliage and also to quicken spring green-up.

Mondo Grass

Two types of Mondo Grass suitable for no-mow situations are Black Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus “Nigrescens”) and Kyoto Dwarf Mondo Grass (Ophiopogon planiscapus “Nana”). Black Mondo grass grows gradually, reaching a height of 6 inches or less. Its dense, purplish-black, grasslike foliage is hardy in USDA zones 5 through 10. For even shorter grass, plant “Kyoto Dwarf” mondo grass as it simply reaches 3 to 4 inches tall. This drought-tolerant grass has very low, carpetlike growth and is suitable for xeriscaping. It is hardy to USDA zones 8 and 7.

Centipedegrass

Centipedegrass (Eremochloa ophiuroides) is a coarse-textured, apple-green grass with a creeping growth habit which forms a dense turf. Because of its slow pace of growth, it’s often called lazy man’s grass. If the grass is not mowed, it is going to reach about 4 to 6 inches. The grass stays green during the year in mild climates. As it doesn’t tolerate heavy traffic, then it’s most suitable for low-maintenance turf areas. Centipedegrass is well adapted to sandy, acidic soils and is hardy in USDA zones 7 through 10.

Seashore Paspalum

To get ditches or other areas where height is not an issue, Seashore paspalum (Paspalum vaginatum) is just a salt-tolerant grass which operates well. This medium-to coarse-bladed grass includes a compact root system and can grow up to 20 inches in height. It is a mild- to medium-colored grass which requires moderate amounts of water and fertilizer. It tolerates traffic and recovers quickly from medium wear during summer and spring. Seashore paspalum has a high tolerance for heat, can manage some shade and is hardy in USDA zones 8 through 10.

No-Mow Commercial Blends

Several grass blends on the market are touted as no-grow mixes. The grasses are inclined to be mixtures of fescues (Festuca) or bentgrass (Agrostis). One blend, Dwarf Fescue Lawn Seed Mix brands as a low-growing turf grass that’s hardy in USDA zones 4 through 10. The No-Mow-Grass brand has two variants. The northern variant is Creeping Bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera), which is designed for areas with hard freezes, grows 3 to 6 inches tall and tolerates shade. The southern version is a blend of fine fescue and buffalo grass, designed for hot, dry areas. The No-Mow-Grass brand doesn’t use USDA zones to classify its grass.

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