What Happens if Grass Turns to Seed?

Grass Growth and Weeds

• Similar to any seed-bearing plant, grass redirects energy from roots and other important plant parts when forming seed heads, which diminishes plant health, according to Iowa State University, because the crowns of grass (just above the soil line) and the rhizomatic root system need large quantities of carbohydrates to withstand summer heat, drought, insects and diseases. Lawn grasses create new plants from buds on crowns and nodes on rhizomes. Also, weeds such as dandelions spring up more easily in turf grass that is thin and has weak rhizomes.

Inefficient Seed Production

• Some gardeners think they can save money on turf grass seed by allowing their existing lawn to go to seed and then collecting it, but this is time-consuming and inefficient. In addition, some hybrid grasses produce seed that either is infertile or produces plants that are different from their parents. But true seed can be collected successfully from prairie grasses grown as ornamentals.

Irritated Neighbors

• In an essay for "The New York Times Magazine," author Michael Pollan recalls the angry reaction of his childhood neighbors when his father "let the lawn go altogether" around 1960. As the grass grew tall, swayed in the breeze and turned to seed on their suburban, Long Island lawn, the neighbors turned surly, refusing even to let 5-year-old Michael play with their children. Pollan notes that many suburbanites view a well-mowed lawn as a civic duty.

Pests and Pets

• Rodents and unwanted reptiles, such as snakes, find good hiding places in tall grass. Mowing the lawn discourages their presence. A different kind of animal problem concerns seeds lodging in the eyes, ears, paws and other body parts of pets. A seed stuck in an eye and left untreated can cause a dog or cat to lose the eye, according to the Adelaide Vet website.

Wildlife Habitat

• Whether a yard is large or small, it can be landscaped to shelter beneficial wildlife, including bats, birds and lizards that help control the insect population as well as honeybees and birds that aid plant pollination. Flowering ornamental grasses are among the butterfly attractions to add to the landscape. Nesting boxes, feeders and water sources, such as birdbaths, increase the yard's attractions for small wildlife as do trees and bushes. Some homeowners enjoy attracting wild mammals. But homeowners should avoid feeding and encouraging animals that may become a nuisance. Some spread diseases, such as rabies, through bites; others strip yards of vegetation. Coyotes and foxes are particularly dangerous to small pets. Overgrown grass provides cover for these predators.