“No Mow May”

The goal of “No Mow May” is to pause the mowing of lawns during the month of May… This pause in mowing allows flowers to bloom in your yard, and help early pollinators get an appreciable start after hibernation. Lawns cover 40 million acres of land in the United States, and are the single most irrigated crop that we grow… Lawns provide little benefit to wildlife, and are actually often harmful! Grass-only lawns do not have flowers or nesting sites for bees, and lawns are often treated with pesticides that are harmful to bees and other invertebrates. 

The start of the growing season is an important time for native bees and other pollinators, as flowers may be hard to find… By allowing the flowers to grow, much-needed pollen can be harvested to help pollinators thrive. There are other benefits to mowing less as well – it can help to create habitats, and increase biodiversity in local wildlife.

By mowing the lawn less, there can be year-round benefits! Taller grass tends to have deeper roots, and less water evaporates from the soil. Reducing the use of lawn mowers reduces air and noise pollution, and mowing less frequently creates better conditions for invertebrates, including lacewings and fireflies. 

Although “No Mow May” is beneficial to the environment, it can be controversial… Many people feel societal pressure to keep their lawns neat and clean. To offset this problem, there are signs that can be placed to explain that you are participating in “No Mow May”. It is also advised that although your grass will be longer, you should still consider trimming other areas of the lawn, and make sure that all debris is picked up so that the yard otherwise looks neat. Another solution would be to mow around the edges of the property, to help convey that you are maintaining the property.

If participating in “No Mow May” somehow isn’t an option, there are other ways to help the environment and pollinators – you could plant a variety of native plants that bloom throughout the season and provide natural nesting sites for bees. You could also reduce or eliminate pesticide use… And simply talking to friends and neighbors can help, too! Talking about the effect that we have on the environment, and the steps that we can take to reduce our impact on the environment, can inspire action on the part of others.

For more information about “No Mow May” Please visit beecityusa.org