Whats the point?

[Shayanna]

In cutting grass? I like how it looks with the grass all long and the chickens exploring through it and the pretty weed/wildflowers growing in it. I like the bugs and the birds and the bunnies, and I love to just grab a big handful of grass to give to the goats.... but my neighbors all give me the stink eye when they cut theirs. And THEY ALL CUT AT THE SAME TIME. Its kind of eery.

A privacy fence is in the future, but.... Is there a real reason to cut the grass? A scientific reason that is good for your yard? Is this a dumb question? It also seems like a waste of time and gas. I thought about maybe next year getting temporary, movable fencing for the goats to rotate them through the yard to give them some extra good stuff, but I still don't see the point... For now I just take them on walks through the yard every now and then.

[Yvonne's hubby]

I mow my pastures too. My reason for doing so is simple. It cuts down on weeds and allows the grass to do better and produce better quality forage for my critters. Mowing the yard around the house cuts down on the noise pollution too. My Yvonne likes it mowed!

[oneokie]

If you aren't subject to local ordinances regulating grass height, do as you want. Only concern I might have is critters using the tall grass for cover/shelter and a fire hazard when it is extremely dry or after frost.

[JoePa]

If you don't cut your grass you will have more ticks and mice around the place - you may get ground hogs digging holes in your yard - your place will look like it is not kept and make the neighborhood look lousy - when it drys it can catch on fire - you'll end up with more weeds - that's all I can think of - oh - after it snows the tall grass will be laying flat on the ground - that's all folks -

[Pig in a poke]

As stated above, mowing helps reduce weeds and encourages growth of favorable grasses.

One time last year, I let the mowing go too long in between. Numerous rats went fleeing as I mowed. Where there are rats/mice, there are snakes. I don't need snakes.

[Brighton]

Ticks, mice, voles, etc., is the reason I keep the grass in my yard cut.

[Shayanna]

Hmmm... You all make valid points. Thank you. Maybe I will get my husband to fix that flat tire on the cub cadet. Anyone know if fresh grass clippings can be fed to goats?

[arnie]

keeping your grass short is acualy bad for it as is never mowing it as it becomes mature and tough and stops growing weeds will grow and seed out to take over it is best to try for a happy middle ground .the root system matches what is above ground but in depth . i'v heard to have a pretty lawn mow high and often .in your case could you mow say a third of your grass every 10 days or so but still keep the mower set a few inches high so as not to shock it to bad by mowing to close ? keeping fresh tender grass growing to feed the goats and to allow the bunnies and chickens a place to hide and bug hunt . yet still have a spot for the neabours to admire .May I ask if you have ever tryed raiseing rabbits again ? of corse me being a good natured old guy if my neabours gave me any gruff id move my pig pen closer for them to admire :-). when I lived in Chicago some neabours gave a young couple(in those days they were thought of as hippies) trouble over not keeping a neat looking lawn and siced the city inspecters on them . they got them back by tilling up the grass altogether and planting a prarie grass and native wildfower mix = pretty ,maintanince free and OK with the local codes as a flower garden

[Rockytopsis]

On feeding the goats cut grass, this is what I have found.

If you bag a little at a time and give it to the goats they will pounce on it. If you let it get hot in the bagger then give it to them not good. Too much green cut grass and they will get the green apple two step.

If you let it lay in rows and dry like hay it runs the risk of molding, so you have to keep it fluffed and then they don't like it.

It does make good mulch when piled up though.

Nancy

[Shayanna]

Originally Posted by arnie

.May I ask if you have ever tryed raiseing rabbits again ? of corse me being a good natured old guy if my neabours gave me any gruff id move my pig pen closer for them to admire :-).

LOL. Thats kind of my husbands point of view. Never got back in to rabbits. still trying to convince DH how valuable they could be if we got started on the right foot this time, but no cigar so far. For now we are sticking with our chickens, dairy goats, and future freezer beef.

[jennigrey]

Some kinds of grass, once it makes seed, the rest of the plant goes, "Yay! I'm done! I have fulfilled my genetic duty!" and then dies. If you cut or graze it off periodically it keeps growing and trying.

Plenty of practical, non-aesthetic reasons.

Maybe they do their creepy synchronised mowing routine for temperature/weather/work hours reasons. Or maybe they are Stepford families or pod people!

[MO_cows]

Here's what you can get when you don't mow the grass:

snakes
mice, rats, voles
more weeds
ticks
volunteer trees
wildfire
ground-nesting wasps/hornets
etc.

You don't have to keep it like a putting green, of course, but you should mow it around your house. There are benefits besides neighbor relations.

[Nimrod]

When the grass is 3 feet high it's hard to find the ball and putts don't go far like they do on TV.

[TnAndy]

Grass isn't the problem. You're too close to your neighbors.

[AuntKitty]

High grass makes it too hard to see the fire ants and land mines the dog leaves behind...

[Explorer]

I haven't mowed my yard in the ten years I have lived here. All native grasses and wild flowers. The first few years there were a few invasive weed, but I kept them pulled and now I am almost weed free. My yard is natural landscape with rocks, fallen tree trunks and gravel. People have stopped and admired the landscaping as it goes well with the Santa Fe style buildings. Every fall after every thing has gone to seed and before the first snow I burn it down to the gravel.

By the way the best mulch I have found here in this arid region is small rocks and gravel.

[Danaus29]

Arizona is a far cry from Michigan.

Green apple two step! Love that term, not the results of it though.

Much as I hate to admit it there are good reasons for mowing the yard. Exercise and to keep the gas companies happy are a couple that weren't mentioned previously.

[arabian knight]

Originally Posted by Brighton

Ticks, mice, voles, etc., is the reason I keep the grass in my yard cut.

So true. I like and have for years always cut my grass short. And when the time comes for a draught it means less mowing for weeks at a time too. LOL
Always comes back though when the rains come, dern it.
And yes I cut my two pens that have critters in them so the tough grasses don't get a hand hold.
And short grass is easier for me to walk around in with my bad knees and ankles etc. And I sure like the fact that it LOOKS GOOD from the road etc. A nice mowed lawn is a nice thing to see, like a nice carpet of green.

[lmrose]

Originally Posted by Shayanna

Hmmm... You all make valid points. Thank you. Maybe I will get my husband to fix that flat tire on the cub cadet. Anyone know if fresh grass clippings can be fed to goats?

Our goats won't eat fresh grass mowed with a lawn mower. They won't eat dried grass clippings either. They also won't eat grass or peelings dropped on the ground or in their pen! They do eat grass they pull themselves and long grass handed to them as long as it hasn't been chopped up by a lawn mower. They will eat long grass mowed with the horse drawn mower whether the grass is green or dried for hay. I don't know if other goats are like this or if ours are just spoiled! Maybe they smell gas on the chopped up lawn mower mowed grasses.

[1shotwade]

I'm 63 and have always tried to gleen info. from my elders.They are a vastly unappreciated resource . The discussion of large mowed lawns has come up many time,and I have been told many times that in the old days you would only mow 10 or 12 feet out from the house and the only reason you did that was so you could see snakes.
I live in the country and now every house you see being build is $300,000 and acres of lawn.How we have change! When growing up here it was common practice to run your pasture fence from the back corner of your house,around the pasture and end up at the other back corner of your house.
Also,I have a brother in Oregon who has been doing the new "green" lawn thing for 20 years.An assortment of pleasant plants that take no care except water.