How to Cut Grass Without a Mower (5 Alternatives that Work)

Most people often find themselves stranded whenever they need to cut their grass but don’t have a mower, or have areas on their lawn that mowers can’t effectively access. If you ever find yourself in such a situation, don’t abandon your lawn maintenance plans, as there are plenty of mower alternatives out there. Even better, most of them can be used to maintain other landscape areas as well.

Ways to cut grass without a mower

To effectively cut grass without a mower, you need a manual or motorized tool that trims grass just as well. The best lawn mower alternatives include a scythe, a string trimmer, a hedge trimmer, a pair of shears, an edger, and a pair of grass clippers.

Scythe

Scythes have been used to cut down grass and grains for centuries before modern lawnmowers even existed. This handheld, traditional tool features a long wooden handle with a long, curved metal blade attached to the end of it. The cutting end of the blade is sharp to easily cut down grass whenever you run the scythe back and forth through the lawn.

Scythe typically has two horizontal handles; one at the upper end of the handle and the second one closer to the center of the handle. This second handle allows for a more comfortable grip when you’re looking to cut your grass at a higher height.

For the best results, you should hold your scythe parallel to the ground. This will ensure that you end up with an even cut. Also, take care when using this tool as the blade is rather sharp and can cause serious injury if handled recklessly.

One advantage of using a scythe over battery-powered or electric mowing tools is that it’s unlikely to malfunction. On the downside, though, it takes some elbow grease to completely mow a sizeable lawn using this old-school tool. Using a scythe on vast areas will likely take a toll on your hip and thigh muscles.

Trimmers

You can also mow your lawn using a hedge trimmer or a string trimmer. Hedge trimmers are just as effective on grass as they are on hedge plants and shrubbery. If you need a versatile tool that you can use on your lawn and hedge at the same time, then a hedge trimmer is the answer.

However, it takes a bit of practice to achieve an even cut when using this tool to cut down grass. You also have to give safety the utmost consideration when using a hedge trimmer on your lawn, as this chainsaw-like tool may cause injuries or trigger an electric fire when it cuts through electrical cords.

Meanwhile, string trimmers are quite similar to hedge trimmers and are a lightweight, easier-to-handle alternative to lawnmowers. To effectively use a string trimmer on grass, you need to establish a comfortable grip and stance. Doing so will enable you to achieve an even cut.

Using a string trimmer is time-consuming, though, as this tool doesn’t cut down as much turf area as a mower with every swipe. What’s more, the trimmed grass clippings are scattered in whichever direction, making post-mowing cleanup a pain in the neck.

Shears

While more commonly used to prune hedges, you can still use a pair of shears to cut down turf grass to the desired height. Shears have a scissor-like design and are meant to be held with both hands, making this tool the best option for achieving an accurate, even cut.

Despite the sharp pair of blades at the end providing a symmetrical cut, shears are rather cumbersome to use on grass. You’ll have to work on your knees and elbows to achieve the right cut. What’s more, it only trims a small amount of grass at a time.

Landscaping pros also prefer to use shears when looking to create specific design patterns on grass, since it provides an accurate trim. You can even curve out alphabets or numerals on your lawn with ease and precision using a pair of shears. This is usually done to enhance curb appeal.

Note: Since it’s both laborious and time-consuming to use shears to cut grass, this tool is best used on small-sized lawns. You can also reserve it for use in areas in your yard that are hard to access using a typical lawnmower.

When using shears to cut down grass, it’s advisable to invest in knee pads and elbow protection, since your elbows and knees will come into contact with the ground most of the time. Protecting your body from bruises when working on your lawn keeps you healthy, allowing you to pursue other projects the next day.

Edger

An edger, or an edge trimmer, is a tool that you can use to cut down grass at the perimeter of the lawn. It’s usually used to clearly demarcate the edge of the lawn. You’ll want to use this tool on highly invasive grass species that spread via stolons and rhizomes beyond the lawn area and onto the driveway or patio.

An edger typically feature a vertical cutting blade that trims down horizontal stolons to prevent grass from growing beyond the perimeter of the lawn. Some edgers also double as string trimmers, as they feature a cutting blade that can be repositioned either vertically or horizontally. Such edgers can also be used to mow grass horizontally on the rest of the lawn as well, not just along the edges.

Edgers are typically manual, battery-powered, or electric-powered tools, making them an eco-friendly alternative to gas-powered lawn mowers. What’s more, they’re significantly cheaper and offer more value for money in the case of 2-in-1 edgers that can be converted to string trimmers as well.

Grass Clippers- SereneLife Battery Grass Cutter.

A pair of grass clippers look like a large version of hair clippers and work much in the same way. They vary slightly in design and size, but all types of grass clippers will require you to get close to the ground (on your knees) for a perfect cut. Thus, remember to wear protective pads on your knees and shoulders when using them.

One of the most effective grass clippers on the market right now for cutting grass is the SereneLife Battery Grass Cutter. This product is battery-powered, meaning you don’t have to worry about stopping and replugging your cord when working on large lawns. What’s more, the battery only takes four hours to fully charge.

The SereneLife Battery Grass Cutter is an easy-to-use machine due to its lightweight construction (less than 3- pounds) and glide-cut technology that offers a precise, symmetrical cut. The ergonomic handle also offers a firm grip. Meanwhile, its heavy-duty ABS construction makes it a durable tool that won’t wear easily.

Unlike a dedicated lawnmower that’s only meant to be used on grass, the SereneLife Battery Grass Cutter can be used on hedges and hardscape debris cleanup as well. You’ll, therefore, be getting more than your money’s worth when you invest in this portable power trimmer-cum-mower.

What is the best tool to cut tall grass?

The best tool to use when cutting tall grass is a scythe. This handheld equipment features horizontal handles for an easier grasp when cutting tall grass. A scythe is a great alternative to a lawnmower when mowing tall grass, as mowers tend to malfunction due to jamming and clogging when used on tall grass.

Another tool that you can use to effectively cut down tall grass is a handheld, dual-blade grass whip. It features a long handle, eliminating the need to bend and squat as you mow the lawn, which can lead to back pain. Meanwhile, the double-edged blade allows you to cut tall grass faster, as it works on both the forward and returns swipes.

Another reason to use a grass whip on tall grass is that, unlike most lawnmowers, it’s a manual tool thus has no motorized parts. As such, it won’t malfunction as you cut massive amounts of tall grass.

Can you maintain a lawn without mowing?

The easiest way to maintain a lawn without mowing is to plant a slow-growing turfgrass variety that takes long to grow too tall. Dwarf fescue is a good example of a low-growing turf-grass variety that’s also disease-resilient

You can also go for a no-mow lawn, which is an all fescue lawn that naturally chokes out weeds and thus doesn’t have to be mowed regularly. As such, you only have to mow it twice a year, mainly to maintain its aesthetic appeal.