1. Ensure a return of biodiversity to your garden
Even though perfectly mowed spaces are a deeply rooted Western tradition and it is pleasant to have a well-cut lawn, we must not forget that the fauna and flora suffer greatly. Indeed, tall grass provides shelter and cover for many insects and small animals, such as birds, lizards, hedgehogs, locusts, etc., as well as all pollinating insects.
This means that by maintaining short grass, you are depriving everyone of what is necessary for their survival and, for your part, you are depriving yourself of valuable allies for your garden. Conversely, by stopping mowing your garden, you will not only create a refuge area for the wildlife in your garden, but also see flowers flourish that you did not need to plant. To restore biodiversity in your garden, several options are available to you.
- You can leave your mower stored in the garage.
- You can also choose to mow as high as possible.
- Another solution is to mow only certain areas, a practice called “differentiated mowing”. You will thus have paths to access the different areas of your garden.
Whichever solution you opt for, you will have the pleasure of admiring butterflies, bees, etc. and many other animals, such as birds, hedgehogs, etc., in the haven you offer them.
2. Benefit from a denser lawn
If you stop mowing, you will notice a marked improvement in the grass, whether aesthetically or in terms of its density. This is explained by the fact that when you cut the grass on your lawn short, it is then subject to climatic hazards which attack it directly at the root.
Conversely, if you let it grow, the roots are preserved and the grass comes out stronger. You can also space out mowing for a similar result. If you are a fan of beautiful, well-cut lawns, try to mow only from time to time. You will see the difference!
3. Enjoy a flower garden
We previously talked about biodiversity and here we are again at the heart of this subject. If you stop mowing your lawn, you will be able to enjoy many flowers in your garden. To convince you, I will give you the example of an experiment carried out at King’s College, in Cambridge: since 2020, part of the lawn on the university campus has no longer been mowed, a shame for the British!
The result is that 84 plant species are now recorded while 33 have been sown. These flowers can be daisies, dandelions, poppies, cornflowers, but many more. Not only will you enjoy a rustic spectacle in your garden, but insects will appreciate the precious nectar of these honey-producing flowers.
On the other hand, if the ground in your garden is mainly covered with grasses, which are less aesthetic, it is possible to mow, taking care not to leave the cut grass on the ground to prevent the seeds from spreading. You can then sow a flower meadow which will take the place of the grasses.
4. Create spaces
If you don’t want to have tall grass everywhere, but are ready to practice differentiated mowing, rather than having flat, uniform land without any real charm, you will be able to play with different reliefs created by mowed areas and those left in the wild state.
You can create paths that provide access to different areas of the garden or have fun creating a sort of maze. You can also mow an area where you can install seats nestled among the tall grass. The possibilities are limitless !
5. Fight against dryness and heat
You should know that tall grass reflects 25 times more sunlight. Moreover, you have certainly noticed that when the lawn is cut too short, the sun’s rays burn it quickly, because they have easy access to the roots. As for water, tall grasses help retain moisture from dew or showers for longer and they act as a thermal insulator by maintaining the freshness of the soil, which the roots do not complain about.
If, despite everything, you decide to mow, try not to do it close to preserve your lawn.
6. Save money
Not mowing will allow you to save money on several levels:
- Time savings : The time you spend mowing your lawn, you can spend it actually enjoying your garden and, at the same time, you will save your energy.
- Fuel savings: By not mowing, you will not only save on fuel or electricity, depending on your mower, but you will emit less CO2. In addition, being less stressed, your mower will last longer.
- Water savings : The taller the grasses, the less they need to be watered, which is not negligible in these times and allows us to preserve this precious resource.
To take advantage of these savings, you can just mow once a year, in July or September when the foragers have taken advantage of your garden. To do this, start with the brush cutter, then finish with the mower, ensuring that the cutting height is not too low.
7. Well, because it’s prettier
For a country-style garden, tall grass is ideal. You will then enjoy a wilder, less smooth rendering, and a meadow where you can admire flowers and the life that surrounds them. You can highlight these green havens by mowing certain areas.
In this way, you will achieve a result that will not give the impression of an abandoned garden. Let your imagination and creativity speak! We assure you that having a few wildflowers, the result is worth it, spending much less energy and protecting our planet.