12 Tips for Successful Differentiated Mowing

A wave of flowers seems to be sweeping across our lawns. This spring and summer, I’ve noticed much more color in the lawns than usual. It’s such a joy to see daisies, forget-me-nots, clover, ground ivy, and, of course, the famous dandelions everywhere! It seems that differential mowing—mowing some areas more often than others—is becoming more widespread, just like all these beautiful flowers.

That said, it’s not always a success. Some lawns look rather neglected, overgrown with unwanted or invasive plants.

However, it is entirely possible to have a more diverse lawn that is more welcoming to wildlife while still maintaining a neat and well-thought-out appearance. Here are a few ideas on how to achieve this:

1. Check Your Local Regulations

Before changing your mowing habits, it is important to consult your municipal regulations. Some cities impose a maximum lawn height, often around 15 cm (6 inches), to prevent nuisances, fire hazards, or the presence of vermin.

That said, attitudes are changing. More and more municipalities are recognizing the environmental benefits of natural lawns and are allowing grass to grow up to 30 cm tall, as long as the area is well maintained. A flower-filled, litter-free yard with neat edges is often viewed more favorably, even with tall grass. 

If a neighbor complains or you receive a notice from the city, explaining your approach can help defuse the situation. You are practicing selective mowing to promote biodiversity and protect pollinators—an argument that many are increasingly accepting.

2. Clearly Mark Out the Areas to Be Mowed

Start by marking out the different mowing areas on a plan or directly on the ground. You can use natural landmarks (hedges, trees, paths) or artificial ones (edging, stakes, ropes, stones). This step makes it easier to maintain different areas and allows you to adjust mowing to the actual use of your land.

Defining zones also makes your landscaping easier to understand. A structured yard, even with long grass or wild plants, looks more intentional and is often better accepted by neighbors, passersby, and municipal inspectors.

There are generally three types of zones:

• Intensively maintained area: This category includes the most heavily used areas, such as playgrounds, picnic areas, and walkways. The lawn is mowed regularly, once every 1 to 2 weeks depending on the season, to a height of 8 to 10 cm (3 to 4 inches). 
• Extensively maintained area: This area corresponds to quieter or less frequented areas. Mowing is spaced out to every 3 to 4 weeks and the grass is kept longer (10 to 20 cm/4 to 8 inches). This area also acts as a transition between different uses. 
• Natural or conservation area: This is vegetation that is left untouched or maintained by annual mowing. These areas provide a valuable refuge for biodiversity and contribute to the health of ecosystems.

3. Keep the Same Shape All Season Long

Avoid changing the contours of your mowing areas from week to week. A consistent shape—even if it’s unusual—will allow your eye to get used to it…and also help your neighbors understand that it’s a deliberate choice, not an oversight or laziness.

Over time, a well-defined border becomes like a frame: it highlights more natural areas and promotes their social acceptance.

4. Display Your Approach

A simple poster or small sign can make all the difference. In a few words, explain that you practice differential mowing to promote biodiversity or reduce your environmental impact. This defuses quick judgments and transforms apparent neglect into a thoughtful gesture. It’s also a great opportunity to raise awareness among your neighbors… and maybe inspire others!

Some municipalities advertise this practice in their parks, on their roadsides, or in public spaces. By putting up your own sign, you are joining this collective movement. This gives your uncut lawn a clear value: it is not neglect, but a conscious and shared choice.

5. Shorter at the Front, Longer at the Back of the House

Mow lower at the front of the house, near the street or sidewalk, and let the grass grow taller at the back, out of sight. This approach gives your landscaping a neat appearance while allowing for less visible but equally useful areas of biodiversity.

It’s a simple compromise that combines aesthetics, social acceptability, and respect for nature.

Even if you leave some parts of your property with tall vegetation, it’s a good idea to keep a strip of grass trimmed along busy areas. This creates a clear boundary and gives the whole area a neat appearance.

6. Create a Mowed Buffer Strip Along Walkways

Consider mowing a narrow strip along walkways, patios, driveways, parking areas, or public areas such as sidewalks or streets. This makes it easier to get around, prevents contact with tall grass (especially when wet or in bloom), and reassures the neighborhood.

In addition to structuring the space, this buffer strip accentuates the contrast between mowed and unmowed areas and highlights your eco-friendly approach. It serves both a practical and aesthetic purpose.

7. Wait Until Flowering Is Complete Before Mowing

You can continue mowing around clumps of wild or planted flowers, such as daisies, clover, or yarrow. This keeps your lawn looking neat while allowing the flowers to bloom. A mowed strip around these islands creates a pleasant visual contrast, reassures the neighborhood, and makes your intention clear: this is not neglect, it is a deliberate gesture in favor of biodiversity. Once flowering is complete, you can mow the entire area or simply trim the faded stems.

8. Adjust Your Mowing Height

Differentiated mowing involves using the right tools at the right time. 

For regularly maintained areas where the grass is between 7 and 10 cm (3-4 inches) long, a standard mower is sufficient. For sections where the grass grows between 10 and 20 cm (4-8″), some mowers will still be able to do the job, but others will not, especially if their maximum cutting height is limited. If the grass is very dense or lying flat, it may be useful to use a string trimmer first.

Above 20 cm (8 inches), a conventional mower is likely to clog or flatten the grass without cutting it effectively. It is then preferable to use a brush cutter, or even a scythe, for a clean cut. This type of maintenance, which is less frequent, can be limited to a single cut per year.

9. Practice Grasscycling

This simple practice, called grasscycling, naturally nourishes the soil by returning nutrients and maintaining good moisture and organic matter levels. In addition to avoiding filling your compost bins, it reduces the need for fertilizer, limits erosion, and saves you time. For best results, mow more often… but don’t remove more than a third of the grass at a time.

10. Overseed Your Lawn for More Diversity

Introduce species other than bluegrass into your lawn. By overseeding with a variety of plants, you will get a more resilient lawn that requires less watering and fertilization and is much more welcoming to biodiversity. For example:

• Yarrow (Achillea millefolium): white or pinkish flower, very hardy, grows back well after mowing.
• White clover (Trifolium repens): enriches the soil, attracts bees, stays low.
• Common daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare): taller flower, perfect for the back or areas that are not mowed often.
• Roman chamomile (Chamaemelum nobile): small white flower, aromatic foliage, ideal for areas with little foot traffic.

Seed mixes for flower meadows are sometimes available, designed for different uses, some of which are intended to remain relatively low and blend easily with a varied mowing regime.

To overseed, start by mowing the lawn short, then prepare the surface by raking lightly to expose some bare soil or by topdressing, i.e., adding a thin layer of potting soil or compost. Then sow the seeds by hand, press them gently into the soil, and water thoroughly. Fall (late August to September) is often the best time to overseed, as rainfall is more frequent and nights are cooler, which promotes germination. Afterward, mow less often to allow the new plants to establish themselves.

11. Watch Out for Invasive Plants

Even in a more natural garden, you need to keep an eye out for invasive plants such as Japanese knotweed and ragweed. Differentiated mowing can give them space to grow if you don’t act quickly. Learn to recognize the species that coexist in your garden and pull out any problem plants as soon as they appear, especially before they go to seed.

Pulling them out by hand is very effective, especially after rain when the soil is loose. Regular mowing is not enough to eliminate plants that spread by rhizomes, but it helps control those that spread by seed by cutting them before they reproduce.

Strengthen your lawn by overseeding with suitable species. A dense, healthy lawn leaves little room for unwanted plants. Deep watering and light fertilization (compost, natural fertilizer) also help maintain balance.

If the infestation is more advanced, covering the area becomes a very effective method. Cut the grass short, then cover the area with cardboard or an opaque black tarp for several weeks or even several months, depending on the species. This deprivation of light weakens stubborn plants and allows them to restart well afterwards.

12. Mow Once a Year, at the Right Time

In areas left in their natural state, such as quiet corners or little-used edges, mowing once a year is often sufficient. Ideally, mow either in late fall (October-November), so that wildlife can benefit from the stems, seeds, and shelter during the summer, or in early spring (March-April), to preserve winter refuges. This simple management technique also prevents trees and shrubs from taking root and slowly turning the area into scrubland or woods. Instead of collecting the clippings, you can run the mower over them again to chop them up finely. This creates a natural mulch that nourishes the soil and limits erosion. Just make sure to spread the debris evenly so it doesn’t smother the vegetation. This small gesture completes the cycle and transforms tall vegetation into a useful resource for the soil and biodiversity.

A Well Thought-Out Lawn That Doesn’t Need Too Much Mowing

By following these few tips, you will discover that biodiversity and aesthetics, wildflowers and good neighborliness can go hand in hand. Differentiated mowing is not neglect, it is a conscious choice!

And if it gives you a good excuse to get the lawnmower out less often… so much the better!