Leechburg homeowner embraces a 'no-mow' lifestyle
A Leechburg man has found an eco-friendly solution to his aversion to pushing a lawn mower.
“I hate mowing lawns,” said Danny Hilliard, a steel industry writer, international traveler and avid fisherman.
Hilliard decided to implement a “no-mow” lifestyle three years ago with the purchase of a historic residence along Main Street that dates back to the mid-1800s.
“I originally started with just a flat lawn and some flowers left over from the previous owner,” Hilliard said. “I left those flowers out of respect and turned the lawn over, sprinkling wildflowers on top.”
In three years, the traditional grass lawn has been transformed into a no-mow oasis, complete with a small pond, garden, compost pile and an abundance of flowers, mostly perennials.
Hilliard spends minimal dollars on his quest.
“I often grab wildflowers or weeds from the outdoors, or they grow naturally when birds drop seeds,” Hilliard said.
The no-mow movement is a conservation effort originally promoted by a British organization called Plantlife. It called for folks to cease mowing their lawn during the month of May.
According to information provided from Penn State University, benefits of natural landscaping include reduced maintenance costs, low maintenance, less yard waste such as trimmings and cuttings, water savings, reduced stormwater runoff and soil erosion, reduced noise pollution because less mowing is needed, greater visual interest, habitat restoration for animals and more leisure time for the resident.
Hilliard calls his yard his happy place.
“It’s so relaxing.”
Frogs, birds, bees, butterflies and rabbits are a sampling of animals and insects that frequent the no-mow space, which includes the front and back yards.
“A flat, green lawn is boring,” Hilliard noted. “A no-mow lawn planted with perennials and natives is vibrantly alive. The plants and the creatures change season to season, year to year. I notice something new every time I walk through the backyard.”
Neighbor Mark MacDonald enjoys photographing flowers in Hilliard’s front section of the no-mow yard.
He frequently walks by to photograph sunflowers there.
“You get to watch the vegetation. It’s beautiful. The rabbits come around and eat berries,” MacDonald said. “It helps out the environment.”
Gardening expert Linda Ban is the general manager of Kiski Garden Center in Allegheny Township.
She said the no-mow concept has gained traction, and customers often ask about the best plants and ways to make their yard require less mowing.
“We recommend it especially when there’s a bank that people don’t want to mow. Perennials are key, and this really took off back when crown vetch was deemed an invasion species.”
She recommended “steppable” or “walkable” perennials because they don’t grow very tall.
“Irish moss is a good plant for ground cover. Some people don’t want to mow the lawn, and they don’t want to plant it. We sell a no-mow grass that just doesn’t grow much. That’s why people like it. It solves a problem,” Ban said.
Hilliard’s fiancée, Danielle Goerman, is happy to support his no-mow quest.
“The visiting butterflies and hummingbirds are my favorite,” Goerman said.
Large birdhouses fashioned from gourds grown by Hilliard last year hang from trees. Other nest structures, fashioned out of used, live Christmas pine trees, also provide a safe haven for birds.
“We see all kinds of birds, from hummingbirds to cardinals. It’s important because you don’t really grow the plants — you grow the dirt,” Hilliard said. “You just take care of the dirt, then you don’t have to eventually buy compost and stuff.”
Grape vines and blackberry vines are abundant.
“We take pride in the fact that we can walk in our backyard and get dessert,” Hilliard said.
Next up for Hilliard is adding an evergreen section.
“It’s a work in progress that I hope will never end,” Hilliard said.
Joyce Hanz is a native of Charleston, S.C. and is a features reporter covering the Pittsburgh region. She majored in media arts and graduated from the University of South Carolina. She can be reached at jhanz@triblive.com
Remove the ads from your TribLIVE reading experience but still support the journalists who create the content with TribLIVE Ad-Free.