Right now, you may think your lawn looks fine…except for one thing. At first, you may not realize what is off. After seeing the title of this article, however, maybe it finally hit you: your lawn reaches the fence. What should you do? This article is here to help.
Why Shouldn’t Grass Go All the Way?
Your lawn does not need to stretch from one end of the yard to the other. It is often better when it doesn’t! Here are a few reasons why the grass beneath your fence should be removed:
- It looks manicured.
- It increases landscape value and curb appeal.
- It is hard to mow around the edges of your lawn.
All of these are valid reasons to consider removing the grass near and under your fence. So, what are some of the best ways to do that?
Ways to Keep Grass from Growing on Fence Line
Now that you know why your fence should not have grass around or under it, what can you do about it? Here are seven ways you can remove the grass in, around, and beneath your fence:
Mowstrips (and Similar)
One way to remove grass from beneath or around your fence is by covering it up. Mowstrips are designed to keep grass from reaching your fence. These sturdy, UV-resistant plastic strips are available at many hardware stores and work with chain-link, vinyl, and wooden fences.
Other brands of vinyl strips exist. The main requirement is that they are six inches wide so that neither side of your fence will get weeds or grass.
Landscaping Fabric
Alternatively, you can use basic landscape fabric to produce the same effect as a mow strip. It will not be as durable, but it will eliminate any grass and weeds from around your fence. After that, it is up to you to put mulch or another grass-inhibiting substrate over it.
Dig a Trench…Then Fill It.
Digging a trench beneath your fence is another way to prevent the grass from growing. Once you are done digging, fill the hole with cement or another medium, such as mulch, bricks, or pebbles.
Solarizing
Solarizing is almost the opposite of using landscaping fabric or mow strips to get rid of your grass. Instead of using something opaque, put a window or a sheet of glass over the grass that you want to be removed. Solarizing is best done at midday so that the blazing rays can kill the grass for you.
Herbicide
You can kill grass with chemical means, too. Any grass or weed killer will do. Use an organic herbicide such as vinegar to get rid of any bits of grass around your fence if you want an easy solution. As long as you don’t plan to grow anything else there, salt can also be effective.
Mulch
Mulch is a staple for keeping grass out of places. It also works for the area around your fence. Get the grass off with landscaping fabric, plastic, or herbicide, then put down mulch so that it doesn’t grow there again.
Make a Creative Border
Once you have space around your fence, you can do something with it. Put rocks there. Edge it with a stone. Combine multiple approaches from the list above to create an attractive, functional border that suits you and your lawn. Mowstrips allow for 3 inches on either side of your fence but going bigger may get your creative juices flowing—and make mowing easier!
Conclusion
You should not have to mow the grass around or below your fence. There shouldn’t be any grass there at all! Not only is it a pain to tend, but having grass growing to the fence makes your lawn look unkempt. The best way to get rid of it is to cover it or use herbicide. After that, you can dig it up, cover it in another substrate, or create an attractive border.
Instead of having grass on your fence line, create an aesthetically pleasing edge around it. If you are already using mulch around your fence line, why not edge it with bricks or stones? It will look better and might even increase the value of your property if you ever have to move!
FAQ
Should Grass Go All the Way to the Fence?
Your lawn probably should not go all the way to your fence. It doesn’t look good, for one thing; you can make a fetching border around your fence instead. It is also not pleasant to mow those tight corners. A 3-inch border between your lawn and the fence should be sufficient, but don’t be afraid to go a little wider.
What is the Easiest Way to Remove Grass from the Fence Line?
Mowstrips are probably the easiest way to eliminate grass from beneath and around your fence. These plastic strips create a perfect border between both sides of your fence and your lawn. Once the grass beneath them has died, you can either leave the strips on or replace them with something like mulch or stones. (If you share a fence with a neighbor, be sure to ask them before doing anything that affects both sides of your fence.)
Should I Give My Fence a Border?
As long as you don’t violate anybody’s property laws, why not? A border between your fence and lawn makes it look better-tended than a lawn allowed to grow from edge to edge. Your effort will also increase the value of your property in the long run!
