A mowable ground cover is a specialized category of low-growing plant used in residential landscapes as an alternative to traditional turfgrass. These plants are selected for their ability to form a dense, uniform carpet while withstanding mechanical trimming with a standard lawnmower. The appeal of these alternatives often stems from their reduced maintenance needs, particularly requiring less frequent watering, fertilizing, and mowing than a conventional lawn. Selecting a mowable ground cover allows homeowners to achieve a neat, manicured appearance.
Essential Characteristics of Mowable Ground Covers
Successful mowable ground covers share specific characteristics that enable them to tolerate regular cutting. The plants must naturally maintain a low profile, typically growing to a maximum height of six inches, to create a uniform surface that is easy to traverse. These plants possess a prostrate or creeping growth habit, allowing them to spread laterally across the soil to form a dense mat that effectively suppresses weed growth.
A vigorous root system and the ability to spread via stolons or rhizomes are necessary traits for quick recovery after mowing and light foot traffic. The plant’s growth point, or apical meristem, must be situated close to the ground, allowing the mower blade to pass over without severely damaging the plant. Plants with herbaceous stems are better candidates because they are easier for a rotary mower to cut without clogging.
Low-Growing Turf Alternatives
Mowable alternatives fall into categories based on their foliage and growth patterns. Broadleaf and flowering options offer a different texture and often attract pollinators, while low-maintenance grasses and sedges provide a more traditional lawn appearance. White Clover (Trifolium repens), a common broadleaf alternative, is hardy across a wide range of climates and offers the benefit of fixing atmospheric nitrogen in the soil, reducing the need for supplemental fertilizer.
Creeping Thyme (Thymus serpyllum) is a durable, low-growing option that releases a pleasant aroma when walked upon or mowed, thriving in full sun and tolerating light foot traffic. For shadier areas, Blue Star Creeper (Laurentia fluviatilis) forms a dense, low blanket of tiny leaves with small blue flowers and can handle some afternoon shade. It spreads quickly by underground runners, establishing a solid cover up to four inches tall.
Among the grass-like alternatives, Pennsylvania Sedge (Carex pensylvanica) is an excellent choice for dry, shaded environments where turfgrass struggles. This fine-textured sedge grows six to ten inches when unmowed but can be trimmed once or twice a season to a height of three inches. Fine Fescues, such as creeping red fescue or chewings fescue, are cool-season grasses that tolerate lower fertility and require less water than traditional Kentucky bluegrass.
Preparation and Establishment
Successful establishment requires thorough site preparation, beginning with the removal of all existing vegetation, particularly perennial weeds. For areas with existing turf or persistent weeds, methods like solarization, using clear plastic sheeting to heat the soil, or sheet mulching with layers of cardboard can kill unwanted growth. It is important to wait until perennial weeds are completely controlled before planting, as they are difficult to manage once the ground cover is established.
Soil testing is recommended to determine pH and nutrient levels, allowing for targeted amendments before planting. Ground covers can be established using seed, plugs, or sod, with plugs being a common method that provides small, established plants ready to spread. Plugs should be planted in a grid pattern at a spacing appropriate for the species, such as six to twelve inches apart, to allow for the fastest coverage. Initial watering is essential for the first few weeks to help the young plants develop a robust root system before reducing irrigation to a low-maintenance schedule.
Mowing and Care Practices
Once the ground cover is fully established, the care routine is generally less intensive than that of a traditional lawn. Mowing is typically performed less frequently, often only a few times a season, depending on the desired height and the plant’s growth rate. The recommended blade height for mowable ground covers is usually higher than for turfgrass, often set between four and six inches to ensure the plant’s growing points are not excessively damaged.
Adhering to the “one-third rule,” which dictates that no more than one-third of the leaf blade should be removed in a single mowing, helps prevent shock and encourages faster recovery. Keeping the mower blades sharp is particularly important to make a clean cut, which minimizes stress on the plant and reduces the risk of disease entry. Unlike turfgrass, many low-growing alternatives require little to no supplemental fertilizer. The remaining clippings can usually be left on the surface to return nutrients and moisture to the soil, further reducing maintenance.