We have a large patio that has grass growing in between the joints of the flagstone. I like the look. However, I can't set my lawn mower low enough to trim the grass nicely. Weedwacker does not do a nice job. Patio is too big to do this manually.

Does anyone have any thoughts on how to solve this problem?

Have you thought about getting rid of the grass and planting moss?

Sure, kill it with RoundUp, then plant moss or some other low growing herb.
The moss might be hard to get going seeing as how you're in New Mexico where it is probably very dry; moss likes it damp and shady.

Sorry, that's just about all I can think of.
Moss is often encouraged to grow in such places as patios because it does well where the soil has been compacted. The acidity too might be hard to come by...5.0 - 5.5 very acidic.

get yourself a reel mower to do the patio with.... you can set them down to putting green height, I believe.....

Toots has the right idea here... and, is correct... a reel mower can be set to as short as you like...

Edited to add... I wouldn't use moss... it will look nice for a while, but eventually the moss will start growing over the flagstone... the won't be pleasant to try to keep up with!

Another option would be stepables... they're low growing plants that you can actually walk on... if this interestes you, go to Stepables.com

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Iowa MLE,

On the contrary, moss can look nice between tile or patio stones. And it need not spread over the stones.
I doubt though whether you'd be able to grow moss...so that suggestion is moot.

I cant see spending a thousand dollars for a reel-type mower just to get closer to the surface.

Have you thought of just killing what's there now and pack in sand.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeannie3:
On the contrary, moss can look nice between tile or patio stones. And it need not spread over the stones.
I doubt though whether you'd be able to grow moss...so that suggestion is moot.

I cant see spending a thousand dollars for a reel-type mower just to get closer to the surface.

Have you thought of just killing what's there now and pack in sand.

I believe you are sssooo trying to be RUDE! ....

And since when to reel mowers cost a thousand dollars! ROFLMAO! How about a hundred bucks... reel mowers

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Iowa MLE,

Thanks all for the suggestions.

Moss will not grow here. Too hot, too sunny, no water.

The flagstone was laid on a bed of sand, the grass is growing in the sand.

I do have access to a push mower. I'll give that a try.

New Mexico, my boo-boo...as soon as I said it, I knew I had goofed....thousand dollars...no..
I have one sitting in my garage...cost less than $200. But still, paying that kind of money for just one job does seem to be going overboard.

Glad you have already such a mower..perhaps it can be lowered to cut something you can get to fill in the spaces.

Its easy enough to kill what grows in-between the cracks....either a regular weed killer or a glyposate such as RoundUp.
I knew moss wouldn't be able to grow there...not in all that sunshine...but it was worth mentioning. Maybe another reader has a similar problem and might think moss.

Some people with patios just expect such needed tasks to have to be done...filling in the spaces with sand.
Just consider it as part of the job of sweeping debris off it...and while you're at it, sweep in some sand.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeannie3:
I cant see spending a thousand dollars for a reel-type mower just to get closer to the surface.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeannie3:
....thousand dollars...no..
I have one sitting in my garage...cost less than $200.

And there's EVERYTHING you need to know about contradiction! ROFLMAO!!!!!!

quote:

as soon as I said it, I knew I had goofed....thousand dollars...no

This ain't nothen but RUDE TR0LL talk'en !

Were all very sorry everyone has to read all the rudeness Jeannie3 post .

Pay no attention to the TR0ll.

quote:

We have a large patio that has grass growing in between the joints of the flagstone. I like the look.

the original poster LIKES the look of the grass between.... quit telling NewMexico to KILL THE STUFF!!!....sheesh....

I have a flagtstone patio with grass growing all through it and love the look. Can't get to it with a lawnmower, so my gardener uses his weed wacker. Cuts very nicely. Might try a different weed wacker, is much less expensive then buying a new mower.

I believe I read on this board that there is a low-growing, or slow-growing type of grass. You might try replacing it with something like that so it's not such a hassle.