No Mow Grass

No Mow Grass (Zoysia tenuifolia) is the closest thing to a lawn you never have to cut. Rather than standing upright it grows as a fine, soft mat about 100mm deep that folds into low undulating mounds, so the surface reads as a green cushion instead of a mown sward. Each plant creeps outward on runners to cover roughly a metre, and planted 30cm apart it knits into continuous cover in a season or two.

Why you'll love it

• The mower can go. At around 100mm it never needs cutting to look right. An occasional trim is a choice, not a chore.
• Very little water once it is away. Drought tolerant, heat tolerant and untroubled by poor soil, so it suits gardens under water restrictions.
• Soft underfoot. The fine leaf makes a pleasant surface to sit on, unlike a coarse running lawn grass.
• Salt and coastal tolerant. It handles salt spray and sandy ground, which is why it turns up around pools and beach houses.
• Safe around pets. Not toxic to cats or dogs.

Where it works best

Lawn alternative and mass planting. Plant 30cm apart in a grid for quick full coverage. Wider spacing costs less but you carry more weeding while the runners close the gaps.

Poolside and coastal gardens. Salt tolerance and a low, clean habit make it a good pool surround, and it does not throw clippings into the water.

Rockeries, slopes and paving joints. The mounding habit looks intentional draped over rock or falling down a bank, and it takes light foot traffic between pavers.

Growing No Mow Grass in Australia

Position and climate. Full sun to light part shade; dense shade thins it and lets weeds in. It suits tropical, subtropical, warm temperate and Mediterranean gardens, so most of coastal Australia and the milder inland. It handles light frost only, so in cold districts expect it to brown off over winter.

Soil and preparation. It copes with poor and sandy ground but it must drain. Prepare the whole area rather than individual holes: strip out existing weeds and grass, cultivate the top 100mm and rake level. Weed competition during establishment is the main reason a planting fails.

Water and feed. Water daily for the first fortnight, then every second or third day through the first summer while the runners spread. After that it needs water only in extended dry weather. A light slow release fertiliser in early spring and late summer keeps the colour up.

One honest warning. This is not a wear grass. A busy dog and a summer of backyard cricket will thin it, so keep a small conventional lawn for play and use no mow grass everywhere else.

What to expect when it arrives

It comes in five formats: tube stock, 140mm pots in packs of ten, 175mm and 200mm pots in packs of six, and 330mm tiles. Tubes and the 140mm packs are the economical way to cover a large area and are what most customers order. The 330mm tiles are ready made turf squares for an instant patch.

Plant in spring or early autumn while the soil is warm. Plants are packed to travel upright and delivered Australia wide, with delivery from $29.95. Advanced and large stock is freighted at cost. Every plant is covered by our 30 day healthy plant guarantee.

Plant care guides and related reading

• No mow grass and lawn alternatives explained
• Browse climbers and groundcovers
• Groundcovers for planting between pavers
• Preparing your soil before planting

Common questions

How many plants do I need per square metre?

At 30cm spacing, about eleven plants per square metre. A 20 square metre area takes roughly 220 plants, or 22 packs of ten.

How long until it covers?

One to two growing seasons at 30cm spacing, faster in a warm summer with regular water. Keeping weeds out during that first year makes more difference than anything else.

Do I ever have to mow it?

No. Some gardeners run a mower over it once a year on the highest setting to flatten the mounds, but that is a matter of taste. Left alone it stays around 100mm.