The Problems of and Solutions to No Mow May

6/28/2023

The last few years have seen the spread of No Mow May, a campaign that encourages folks to mow their lawns and meadows less in order to reduce fossil fuel emissions and water use as well as help wildlife. On the face of it, it seems almost too good to be true–you could do a lot of good things for the environment by doing literally nothing. So perhaps it’s not surprising that letting your lawn grow for a month has fallen short of its promises.

However, No Mow May has provided an important stepping stone for rethinking what pretty means in urban and suburban landscapes, and how these spaces can provide valuable habitat and other environmental benefits. Our yards have the potential to support butterflies, bees, and birds while also cleaning and cooling the air, rebuilding compacted soils, and reducing urban flooding through landscapes that absorb more storm water. To take the next step into creating healthier landscapes for our families and neighbors, we have to understand the flaws of No Mow May and look at these goals with more nuance.

Read on with my piece at Better Homes and Gardens....

James McGee

6/29/2023 02:25:15 pm

I tried to do “No Mow May” this year. I actually mowed twice in May. The first time I mowed at my mower’s tallest setting, 4 inches. This was above the violets and clover. I then mowed once again at the end of May, but avoided the clover patches that had gotten taller than four inches and had started to bloom. One type of grass (a rye) was sending up flower spikes taller than the clover, so I used a string trimmer to cut just above the clover flowers to give a tidier appearance.

I did not really believe non-native white clover would attract many pollinators other than honeybees. However, I was wrong. I saw other bees, small bumble bees, and even skipper butterflies using the clover. Leaf hoppers had spread from my native plantings into the clover.

I rather liked the drifts of clover flowers, here and there, throughout my lawn that remind me of clouds in the sky. I was also surprised by the pleasant hay-like scent of the clover flowers, which I had not noticed before when I had mowed the clover short.

At this time, some of the patches of clover flowers are in full bloom and other patches are turning brown. I plan to watch for when the pollinators stop using a patch of clovers and only then mow it.

Dandelions are not available for pollinators in my lawn since I remove them with a weeding tool. I do this to keep the neighbors happy since I have stopped using herbicides or fertilizers on my lawn. Besides not having damage to my native plants, not using herbicide or pesticides on my lawn has allowed the lightning bugs to return. I look up and down my street and I am the only house that has lightning bugs. I was told the herbicides or pesticides killed them. However, it is really neat to stop using these products and see the lightning bugs return.

That is my “No Mow May” experience. I have native gardens too. I add a little more every year. However, I will also keep some lawn where the kids can play or as paths. Mowing above the violets and clover (during flowering) seems to help give some positive aspects to an otherwise mostly sterile space.

Also, I almost forgot. The areas with clover has been much greener than areas with just grass during this drought. Probably because white clover has much deeper roots than lawn grass.

As for field thistle (Cirsium arvense), I have found putting a doubled paper lunch bag over them blocks enough light that they die.

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