A Whole Oak Forest in my Front Yard

I don't think I ever cut the grass in the front yard last year - simply never got around to it, and it stayed mostly green and never got very tall. When fall came, I never really got around to raking, either. The neglect may have been a contributing factor to my incipient oak forest.

Most of the broadleaf plants you see in what passes for lawn are oaks. Mostly white oaks.  There is an ancient white oak just out of the frame to the right, and the whole yard is shaded by it.

Here's what it looks like close up:

I imagine that one pass of the mower will do these trees in for good. I don't need an actual oak tree anywhere I plan to cut. There are several volunteer oaks, both white and red, and a few hickories of different species as well, that I am letting go in the garden.

I could be in for a rough patch if the mower does not eliminate the trees - there could be a need to mow more than once a year to keep this in some semblance of lawn.