Critics of No Mow May have concerns that the movement could be unintentionally harmful for pollinators, providing only a temporary safe haven, but failing to put in place more long-standing efforts.
No Mow May is a terrific idea as a way to promote awareness and habitat for emerging spring pollinators. However, refraining from mowing for a month may risk long-term damages to the lawn, which could result in extra costs, labor, and higher environmental impacts to recover from later in the summer.
By allowing it to grow longer, and letting flowers bloom, your lawn can provide nectar and pollen to help your bee neighbors thrive. Mowing less creates habitat and can increase the abundance and diversity of wildlife including bees and other pollinators.
Having spent decades in the landscaping and nursery industry, selling, installing, and maintaining all kinds of lawn grasses, I knew that letting my lawn grow a month without mowing would not kill it, and any superficial damage could be reversed within a few weeks.
No Mow May lasts one month, but there are many other ways you can help pollinators all year long.
Letting your lawn grow also helps you be more eco-friendly in the landscape by saving water and reducing emissions. And the best part of mowing your lawn less is that the landscape will do most of the work for you.
The research found that the diversity of bee species was greatest in the lawns that were cut the least often. However, it was the lawns cut every two weeks that supported the highest abundance of bees.
If you must mow your lawn after a frost, the best practices are to ensure that your lawn does not have a lot of moisture from snow or ice and make sure to not mow the lawn when the temperatures are below 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
No Mow May is a national campaign to encourage people not to mow their lawns until the end of May in order to boost the flowers, and nectar, available to pollinating insects such as bees, butterflies and moths. It also allows spring flowers to set seed and plants to establish themselves in advance of the summer.
Mowing the lawn wet is a lot riskier than it's worth. The biggest risk is slipping and falling. No matter how much traction your sneakers have, they're no match for slippery wet grass. Falling on its own would be bad enough, but falling while operating a machine with spinning blades is even more dangerous.
Mowing every two weeks — instead of weekly — and not dousing grass with chemical herbicides and fertilizers, helps the environment and supports the health of bees, which are among the world's most important pollinators.
Mowing wet lawns increases the risk of rut damage, since the soil is softer and more slippery for mowers, and the grass roots can more easily be torn out by the mower tires.
A longer grass blade will shade the ground underneath, keeping it cooler, meaning it won't dry our as quickly as when the lawn is mowed short. In other words, the lawn does not have to receive as much supplemental water. Reduces weed growth.
However, be mindful that mowing too close to nightfall (between 6 and 8 p.m.) will not give your grass enough time to recover, making your lawn more susceptible to fungus and turf disease. It's recommended to avoid cutting your grass in the early morning and midday.
'The least acceptable times are before 8am and after 8pm when most people are seeking rest and relaxation,' says expert gardener Diana Cox, founder of The Gardening Talk.
Cut your lawn to possibly the shortest height you have all season. The ideal height is around 2 1/2 inches. Cut it too low and the grass might not be long enough to photosynthesize and provide nutrients to the roots. Too high and the frost might become matted after a snowfall.
Although a low-cut, manicured lawn might seem ideal, turf grass actually does better in the summer heat when you let it grow a bit. Longer shoots mean deeper roots, which the lawn needs to suck up whatever moisture is in the soil. A higher lawn also shades the soil, minimizing evaporation.
Is it bad to cut grass in a heat wave? Yes, it can be. The heat leaves your grass 'stressed' and cutting it too often or too short can make this worse. If you do mow, try doing so a day or so after it rains, when your grass is likely to be happier.
Apply fertilizer, pre-emergent and weed killer.
Early in spring, use a combination of fertilizer, which feeds your grass, and pre-emergent, an herbicide used to prevent crabgrass. Then, six to eight weeks later, apply both products again, along with a broadleaf weed killer.
Frequent mowing helps to keep your lawn at just the right height. Depending on the type of grass your lawn has, this could be maintained anywhere between 2"-3" in length. Making sure your lawn stays at this height protects the soil from overexposure from the sun.
Mow them Down
At first sight of dandelions' yellow heads, it's time to mow your lawn. This will prevent them from turning into white puff balls and spreading more seeds on your lawn. You can also use a bag attachment on your mower to mitigate the spread of seeds if those dandelions have started to change.
According to Prairie Nursery, not mowing the lawn at all will result in a turf with leaves that grow to about 6 inches in height and drape over one another.
Letting the plants grow a bit unruly, especially if you have a lawn, is actually a big help for insect wildlife. The mini jungle created by long grass gives them a safe haven to hide in, and if there are wildflowers in there, it's good for bees too.
Somewhat longer grass is often in better shape than short grass, but mowing very infrequently is harmful. When you allow grass to grow long and then suddenly cut it, the mowing can send grass into shock. Grass roots become diminished and your lawn weakens, making it susceptible to insects and diseases.
Mowing actually helps make your grass grow thicker because the tip of each blade contains hormones that suppress horizontal growth. When you cut the lawn, you remove these tips allowing the grass to spread and grow thicker near the roots.