Here’s why No Mow May is a bad idea
Now that the calendar is turning from April to May, proponents of the “No Mow May” movement can be heard pleading with homeowners to refrain from mowing the lawn during the month of May.
If you are not familiar with this movement, it suggests that homeowners park their lawn mower for the month of May in order to let their grass and the resulting weeds, such as dandelions, to grow uninterrupted.
The logic of this idea is that by refraining from mowing, the resulting weeds provide a food source and habitat for bees and other beneficial insects at a time of the year when there are few other food sources for these insects.
The idea for No Mow May started in Great Britain a few years ago and has gained some traction in the United States. Last year, some communities in
Ohio adopted the practice for their municipal greenspaces and have also promoted the practice among residents and landowners in those communities.
While the objective of the No Mow May strategy is laudable −who doesn’t love bees and other pollinators − adopting the strategy can present homeowners with some serious lawn-maintenance challenges come June.
Effects of not mowing
Not mowing for the whole month of May means that the lawn will grow to 1218 inches tall, depending on species and weather conditions during the month of May. If the lawn is then mowed down to a recommend height of 3 inches on the first of June, the lawn may go into shock, the crown of grass plants will be exposed and as we get into the drier months of summer, the grass plants may suffer and even die.
Reseeding might be necessary in September to bring back the turf, which will cost time, money and effort. Dead grass plants will result in open ground space, which will allow a greater number of germinating weeds to flourish, making it more difficult to establish a new stand of grass without the use of an herbicide.
At the first mowing in June, No Mow May practitioners may find that in addition to providing habitat for pollinators, the tall grass may be serving as a habitat for mice, voles, snakes and even a nest of baby bunnies.
Harmful insects, such as ticks, may also have taken up residence in the tall grass during the month of May. Pollinators and other beneficial insects ,which have taken up residence in the grass and weeds, may also be killed when the grass is cut for the first time in June.
Alternatives to support pollinators
The start of the growing season in early spring is a critical time for hungry, newly emerged native bees. It is a time when flowers with their pollen and nec