How to Cut Grass Without a Lawn Mower? (6 Affordable Ways)
The prices of lawnmowers are sky-high, especially if you’re interested in riding lawnmowers.
This situation makes it impossible for many people to purchase lawnmowers. So what can you do to cut grass without a lawn mower?
Fortunately, there are multiple ways to cut the grass from the lawn or the backyard without using any type of lawn mower.
The most popular ways are using animals like goats, string trimmers, shears, scythes, edgers, and hedge trimmers.
You may be confused about how goats or trimmers will help, right? No worries, we’ve got you covered!
In this guide, we’ll not only discuss what things will work as an alternative to lawn mowers but also share how they’ll work and their expenses.
Is It Possible to Cut Grass Without a Lawn Mower?
Yes, it’s possible to cut grass without a lawn mower. The reason is that the first lawn mower was invented in 1830; before that, everyone worked with the tools.
Therefore, you can still use the tools and cut the grass without any issues.
However, you should know that since you’re not using the machine, you have to put in 110% of your effort.
In addition, the work will be time-consuming, and you may have to spend hours cutting the grass.
Also Read: How to Make a Lawn Mower Faster! 6 Effective Tips
Cut Grass Without Lawn Mowers With These 6 Affordable Ways!

Below are the most affordable ways that work as an alternative to lawnmowers.
You can pick any option you want that suits you and your lawn.
Use Animals
The animals we are discussing here to use as an alternative to lawn mowers are goats and sheep.
If you have them, congratulations, you’ll be able to cut your grass easily without purchasing any lawn mower.
But wait, is it a good alternative without any disadvantages? No, like any other option, it also has some disadvantages.
In the end, you’re using goats who have no idea about whether they should eat grass more or where they shouldn’t.
As a result, the grass of your lawn will be uneven. Apart from this issue, you must also ensure that your goat isn’t eating too much.
Otherwise, it will be harmful to health. You can watch the video below to understand how you can take help from goats in mowing the lawn.
Note: It’s only a good option if you already have goats or sheep because they are expensive, around $1000, in which you can easily buy a new lawnmower.
String Trimmer
If you’re not satisfied with the option of goats or sheep, a string trimmer is exactly what you need.
It’s one of the best alternatives for lawn mowers. It’s an affordable machine (up to $100), which can mow the grass of the lawn faster and evenly.
The string trimmer is easily available all around the world. So buying it won’t be an issue.
Just remember one thing: it’s like a push lawnmower; you have to hold it the entire time to mow the grass.
This is not like you’re sitting at a side and a goat is mowing the grass.
Shears (Giant Scissors)
The next option we’ve as an alternative to lawn mowers is called Shears. These are giant scissors; you may have them in your home.
In case you don’t, they are extremely affordable and can be easily found on any online marketplace within the budget of $50.
You can easily cut any type of big grass on the lawn with giant scissors.
The only issue is it’s a good option if you have a lot of time to invest and can cut all the grass without using any machine.
After all, you have to do everything manually, from cutting to cleaning.
Scythe
Scythe is similar to the method of Shears. The difference is Scythe is big, and while cutting the grass, there’s no need to sit.
You can do all of the work by standing. The best part about it is it’s again an affordable option.
However, like any other option, it also has some cons.
Like you have to do all the work manually, which is good in terms of exercising and increasing productivity. Still, it can be time-consuming (a lot) and make you tired.
Edger
The fifth option we’ve found for you to mow the grass from the lawn is by using Edger.
Don’t worry; it’s not like Shears or Scythe that can make you tired instantly. Instead, it’s a better option that doesn’t take much time and you can easily mow the grass.
It’s a machine that can be easily found for under $100. You only have to hold it, pull the trigger and walk on the lawn.
The blade is attached to the bottom and will start working (cut the grass) when you touch the trigger.
Hedge Trimmer
The last option of this article is the hedge trimmer. It’s perfect for the situation when you’re looking for the cheapest option to cut the big grasses in your backyard.
With this machine, you can efficiently cut the grass in the minimum time.
The design of this machine is similar to the Edger. The trimmer is at the bottom, and above is a big pole holding the machine.
The main issue is trimming the grass might be difficult if you’re using it for the first time. That’s why we want you to watch the video below first:
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is a lawnmower necessary to cut the grass on the lawn?
No, a lawnmower is not necessary to cut the grass on the lawn. But it’s good to have a lawnmower; it works fast and doesn’t take a lot of time.
You can use other alternatives, but a lawnmower is faster and more efficient.
Which is the best option, Shears or String trimmer?
Without a shadow of a doubt, a string trimmer is a better option than a Shear. A string trimmer is a proper machine that works fast.
At the same time, Shear is like giant scissors; you have to sit on the lawn and cut all the grass with Shear.
What’s the quickest method to mow the lawn without a lawnmower?
The quickest methods we’ve found to mow lawns without lawnmowers are by using a string trimmer, Edger, and a hedge trimmer.
They all work comparatively faster than the other traditional options like Scythe or Shear. In addition, all of them are affordable options.
Conclusion
What do you think about which option of our guide: how to cut grass without a lawn mower, is the best?
If you ask us, we think the Edger, Hedge trimmer, and String trimmer are best in terms of efficiency.
You can use a Shear, Scythe, or animal if you can wait and have time.
Lastly, we want to say one thing, if you think that none of the options work best, like a lawnmower.
Then we suggest you go with a cheaper mower like the Greenworks corded mower. It works well, the quality is great, and most importantly doesn’t cost an arm and leg.