Concrete Mow Strips: Cost, Benefits & Why Wisconsin Homeowners Love Them

The cost of a concrete mow strip typically ranges from $3 to $8 per linear foot installed in Wisconsin, depending on width, design, and project size. A mow strip is a flat concrete border installed flush between your lawn and garden beds so your mower wheel rides directly along the edge, eliminating the need for string trimming. Wolfrath's Curb installs professional concrete mow strips across 11 counties in northeast Wisconsin as part of our landscape curbing service.

Most homeowners assume mow strips are a separate product from landscape curbing, but they're actually the same material installed with a different profile. The concrete is extruded using the same equipment and custom blend that Wolfrath's uses for decorative curbing, just shaped with a flatter, mower-friendly slope. That means you get the same expected service life of 20 to 30 years and freeze-thaw durability as raised curbing, with the added benefit of faster mowing.

What Is a Concrete Mow Strip and How Does It Work?

A concrete mow strip is a narrow band of concrete, usually 4 to 6 inches wide, installed at ground level between two landscape zones. The most common application is between your lawn and a mulched flower bed, where the strip serves as a physical barrier and a mowing guide.

Your mower wheel rides along the top of the strip, letting you cut right up to the bed's edge without hand-trimming. The concrete also prevents grass rhizomes from creeping into garden beds and stops mulch from washing onto the lawn during heavy spring rains. In Wisconsin, where snowmelt saturates yards every March, that mulch containment alone saves hours of spring cleanup.

Wolfrath's Curb extrudes mow strips as seamless, continuous borders using our professional installation process , which means no joints or gaps where weeds can push through.

Concrete Mow Strip Cost Breakdown

Mow strip pricing follows the same structure as decorative curbing because the installation process is identical:

• Standard gray mow strip: $3–$5 per linear foot
• Colored or lightly stamped mow strip: $5–$7 per linear foot
• Combined mow strip + raised curbing: $6–$8 per linear foot

A typical project of 100–200 linear feet costs between $300 and $1,400. Larger properties with extensive bed borders benefit from economies of scale, often landing near the lower end of the range. For a detailed look at the factors that influence pricing, see our full concrete landscape curbing cost guide.

Why Wisconsin Homeowners Choose Concrete Over Other Mow Strips

Plastic mow strips from big-box stores cost $1 to $2 per foot upfront, but Wisconsin's freeze-thaw cycles heave them out of the ground within one to two seasons. Steel strips rust at the soil line and develop sharp edges that catch bare feet and mower blades. Rubber edging warps in summer heat and cracks in January cold.

Concrete doesn't share those disadvantages. The custom blend Wolfrath's mixes on-site includes fiber reinforcement and polymer additives that flex with temperature swings instead of cracking apart. The integrated color won't peel or fade like painted steel. And because the strip is poured as one continuous piece, there are no connection points where frost can lift a section out of alignment.

We serve homeowners across our full 11-county service area from Green Bay to Fond du Lac, and mow strip installations follow the same warranty coverage as decorative curbing.

Frequently Asked Questions

How wide should a concrete mow strip be?

Most concrete mow strips are 4 to 6 inches wide, which accommodates standard push mower and riding mower wheels. Wolfrath's Curb can adjust the width during installation based on your mower size and the border's visual proportion to the bed. Wider strips work well along long, straight runs, while narrower profiles suit curved bed edges.

Can landscape curbing double as a mow strip?

Yes. Many of Wolfrath's curbing profiles include a mower-friendly slope that lets your wheel ride along the top edge while the visible face displays a decorative stamp. This gives you both the aesthetic benefit of raised curbing and the practical mowing advantage of a flat strip in one installation.

How long does a concrete mow strip last in Wisconsin?

Professionally installed concrete mow strips are designed to perform for 20 to 30 years with minimal maintenance. Resealing every two to three years protects the surface from moisture penetration and UV fading. Compared to plastic or steel alternatives that need replacing every one to three years, concrete delivers significantly lower lifetime cost.

Give Your Lawn a Permanent Edge

A concrete mow strip doesn't just separate your lawn from your beds. It eliminates string trimming, stops mulch migration, and survives Wisconsin's winters without shifting, rusting, or cracking apart. The upfront cost pays for itself within a few seasons of skipped edging repairs and reduced yard work.

Contact Wolfrath's Curb at (920) 212-2872 or send us a message to schedule a free estimate for your mow strip project.