8 yard upgrades that make mowing harder

Upgrades can make your yard look polished, but some design choices add hours to your mowing routine. What looks great in photos may leave you frustrated every weekend. If you’re trying to keep mowing efficient, here are the upgrades that cause the most headaches.

Decorative Flower Islands

Scattered islands of flowers break up the yard visually, but they create obstacles for mowing. Each one requires extra trimming and careful maneuvering.

Without them, you can mow in straight lines. With them, you’re spending twice as long circling and edging.

Narrow Pathways

Skinny stone or mulch paths may look quaint, but they make mowing difficult. Lawn equipment doesn’t fit, and you end up weed-whacking more than mowing.

Wider, mower-friendly paths save time and frustration while still adding structure to the yard.

Fountains and Water Features

Water features create focal points, but they also block easy mowing routes. Edging around them is time-consuming, and overspray can create muddy patches.

If you want one, plan its placement carefully so it doesn’t break up large mowing areas.

Overuse of Gravel or Rock Beds

Rock borders may look clean, but grass and weeds creep in. That means more trimming by hand or spraying chemicals to keep them neat.

Grass growing into gravel is especially tough to manage. It adds maintenance most homeowners don’t anticipate.

Steep Slopes

Adding a slope or berm may seem like a landscaping upgrade, but it makes mowing dangerous and inefficient. Most mowers don’t handle inclines well.

Instead, plant groundcover or shrubs in sloped areas. It looks good without making mowing a battle.

Too Many Trees

Trees provide shade, but having too many creates endless weaving and trimming. Roots above ground also make mowing hazardous.

A few well-placed trees are fine. Overcrowding them adds unnecessary work every time you cut the lawn.

Decorative Fencing

Short fences and decorative edging add charm, but they’re obstacles for a mower deck. You’ll spend extra time trimming tight areas by hand.

Wider spacing or simplified borders give the same look while keeping mowing easy.

Garden Beds Without Borders

Open garden beds that blend into the lawn mean grass creeps in constantly. That requires trimming edges after every mow.

Installing defined borders keeps the mower line clean and reduces extra work. It’s a small fix that saves a lot of time.

*This article was developed with AI-powered tools and has been carefully reviewed by our editors.