Lawn Higher Than Driveway: Better Looks, Easier Maintenance
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Should a Lawn Be Higher Than a Driveway?
Keeping the lawn topsoil 1 ½ “ below the driveway will ensure the driveway does not get mud on it when it rains or you water the lawn. For most grass types, grass height should be 3 ¾ “ before mowing and 2 ½ “ after mowing.
In essence, you must keep the lawn higher than driveway but the lawn topsoil lower than driveway.
A good rule of thumb is to take off only the top ⅓ rd of the grass, every time you mow the lawn. The result of following this rule of thumb will be that you will always have 1” – 2 ¼ “ of grass above the driveway, which looks really nice.
The same guidelines can also be used for driveways that have raised edging. Keep the lawn topsoil 1 ½ “ below the top of the driveway edge and keep the height of the grass at 3 ¾ “ before mowing and 2 ½ “ after mowing.
The reason behind taking off only the top ⅓ rd of the grass, every time you mow the lawn is that it stimulates rugged grass growth. If you cut too much the grass gets stressed and may even wither.
Having said that, grass growth is also a function of the season and the amount of rainfall. The rule of taking off only the top ⅓ rd of the grass is great for fall. In spring and summer you may let the grass grow a bit taller.
Benefits of Having Lawn Higher Than Driveway
The benefits of having the lawn higher than driveway is that it
- Looks prettier
- Is easier to mow the lawn
- Is easier to trim the lawn edge
The lawn topsoil should be lower than the driveway to prevent the driveway from getting dirty when
- It rains heavily and the lawn gets slushy
- The lawn is watered, especially close to the edge
Moreover, when the lawn topsoil is lower than the driveway light rain will run off the driveway into the lawn. A convenient and natural way to keep the driveway dry and the lawn watered.
How Do You Lay Sod Next to a Driveway?
To lay sod next to a driveway, start off by removing the topsoil next to it. Dig at least 1 ½ “ deep. This will ensure that muddy water from the lawn will not run onto the driveway. At the same time the grass height will be higher than the driveway by 1” – 2”, which looks really nice.
Create a slope leading away from the driveway. This again helps keep the water away from the driveway and provides good drainage for rainwater.
Install the sod alongside the driveway ensuring that there is no gap between the sod and the driveway.
After installation of the sod is complete, provide the starter fertilizer for nourishment. Also water it regularly in the initial stages so that the grassroots can get entrenched in the soil and your lawn begins to thrive.
How Do You Cut Grass Next to the Driveway?
Some people like to do the edges first, but it is better to mow the lawn first. You can edge the grass next to the driveway after that using either a string trimmer or a manual edger.
A string trimmer uses a spinner that can run on electric or gas. At the edge of a long shaft is a piece of a monofilament string which spins and cuts through grass and weeds. Check out the String Trimmer from Greenworks.
Manual edgers are more labor intensive and take more time but give you a more precise cut.
Always use safety gear such as safety glasses, gloves and full length clothing. Lawn mowers, trimmers and edgers can send pebbles flying at considerable speed. A face mask is also a good idea if you are allergic to pollen or fine dust.
Finally you need to clear the grass clippings from the driveway. You could just use a leaf blower to blow it back on the lawn. Grass clippings make a great lawn fertilizer.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that keeping the lawn higher than driveway comes with a number of benefits. Of course what I mean here is that the grass tips should be higher than the driveway but the top soil must be lower than the driveway.
Thank you very much for reading this post. I do hope you found it informative and helpful.
