In April, memes and social media posts start budding with messaging about the benefits of participating in No Mow May, and the month-long commitment to uncut grass is gaining traction. Just let it grow, say advocates of the initiative.
We understand why. Flowering plants and even weeds can be important nectar sources for pollinators like bees. Unmowed lawns can offer shelter, food and habitat for beneficial insects and wildlife like birds and bats. Plus, foregoing mowing for an entire month can help mitigate the effects of development that disturbs and diminishes natural environments and biodiversity.
But No Mow May isn’t the only avenue for inviting birds, bees and butterflies to your landscape. Plant selection plays a vital, lasting role in supporting pollinators. And overgrown grass can attract insects and pests you don’t want around -- like fleas and ticks, and rodents and snakes -- and once you do mow, there will be more material to break down, which can lead to unhealthy thatch buildup.
So, is No Mow May really a good idea for your lawn?
The decision depends on where you live, the type of turf growing in your lawn and your quality of cut expectations. Also, once May is over, then what?
Let’s address the pros and cons of No Mow May.
No Mow May is an awareness campaign to provide education about increasing nectar for pollinators during a low-bloom time following winter. The concept originated in the United Kingdom by an environmental organization called Plantlife.
The campaign crossed the pond and caught on in the U.S. with homeowners concerned about sustainability initiatives and natural resources. No Mow May was especially popular during the COVID-19 pandemic when many people spent more time at home and outdoors.
Simply put, No Mow May felt like a cool thing to do. There are good reasons to pursue its underlying purpose. Across the lawn care industry, there’s a concerted effort to integrate more native plants and pay attention to landscape groupings that offer a succession of flowering blooms that attract pollinators and beneficial insects.
There are reasons to consider participating in No Mow May. We’ll get to the drawbacks. For the most part, if your lawn is already weedy and less manicured, No Mow May will be less of a turf care setback. The same is true for swaths of land that are only maintained periodically.
You really like the idea of supporting the ecosystem and encouraging biodiversity. You recognize the sustaining role pollinators like bees play in our world, including in food production. But is not mowing in May the answer?
Let’s talk turf.
While your lawn may become a richer habitat for pollinators, insects and wildlife if you don’t mow in May, you could literally cut out the benefit in a day. After a month without mowing, your lawn will require multiple passes. Best practices call for following the one-third rule for healthy mowing, removing no more than one-third of the turf stand during a single pass. You may need to collect clippings that are so long they otherwise would create windrows and an eventual thatch issue.
Overgrown lawns become overrun with weeds, adding to a maintenance headache and possibly more lawn care costs like herbicides to remedy the issue. You might have avoided intensive treatment by maintaining an optimal turf height for most grasses, which is between 2½ and 3 inches tall.
If you mow before your lawn exceeds 3 inches in height, grass should grow stronger, resist weed growth and establish healthy roots. But when you “let it go” for a month, your lawn becomes stressed and in need of more attention than usual.
There’s a reason the landscape sector is called the “green industry.” We’re dedicated to improving and sustaining green spaces, while treading lightly on the environment. And there are many ways to accomplish this goal. No Mow May didn’t make the list for most circumstances.
There are several ways to compromise that will benefit your lawn, the environment and achieve many of the same goals No Mow May sets forth.
While No Mow May was born out of good intentions and seems like a harmless initiative, in the end, it is a short-term solution to a long-term issue. As we've discussed, it may not be the solution it claims to be. Taking a holistic, year-round approach to attracting pollinators, improving biodiversity and contributing to a healthy outdoor environment is the more long-lasting and sustainable way to go. Grasshopper encourages you to mow in May and throughout the growing season to maintain a healthy lawn.
Thinking about a new mower this May? Our team can help you choose the best model for your needs.