No Mow May: Our Lawns Have A Dirty Little Secret

Mmmmm, don’t you just love the scent of fresh-cut grass? And there’s something so soothing about the look of a tidy garden, right? No wonder the average Brit mows the lawn every fortnight!  

But our perfect lawns have a dirty little secret. They’re an absolute wasteland for bees, other pollinators and wildlife in general. Short lawns without flowers provide no food, nor shelter or nesting places for these little creatures. Creatures we so desperately need to preserve and restore our precious nature. Time to make a change! 

Why less is mow

By mowing your lawn less frequently, you allow wild flowers and plants to flourish. This isn’t only a great joy for hungry pollinators and other wildlife, but can also be a true delight for you! 

Natural habitat and food for wildlife 

 We all know bees, butterflies and other pollinators need flower nectar and pollen to survive. But what many of us don’t realize is that our own survival is also at stake! For one, we depend on these little buzzers to pollinate (fertilize) the fruit and crops we eat.

By letting your grass grow longer, you also provide a habitat and shelter for wildlife. Including bees, butterflies, moths, creepy crawlies, dragonflies, damselflies, hedgehogs, frogs, toads and birds. All these species are indispensable to maintain the natural balance of our ecosystem. 

Tapestry of scents and colours

Sure a tidy lawn looks lush. But why not let (a part of) your lawn get covered in a tapestry of scents and colours? Over 200 different types of flowers can be found on British lawns. From daisies, dandelions and creeping buttercups to the rarer eyebright and knotted clover. 

An added bonus of flowers in your garden: you never have to run to the florist again! Want a gorgeous bouquet to beautify your home or bring to a dinner party? Just go out and pick some wildflowers in your garden! Easy peasy.

More time to do the things you love

Last but not least: imagine how much time you’d save by mowing less frequently! Time you could use to do things you really love in your spare time. Reading a good book, going for a nice walk or yes, admiring your stunning flower garden!  

No Mow May: an initiative by Plantlife UK

Convinced that less is mow? Join thousands of gardeners around the UK for No Mow May. This initiative was started by Plantlife , a UK-based wild plant conservation charity. Meanwhile, No Mow May has also gained massive traction in North America. 

The challenge: not cut your grass for a whole month and let wild flowers flourish to welcome early-season pollinators. Of course, we’re nearly at the end of May already. But mowing less is crucial all year round! So why not try #LetItBloomJune and #KneeHighJuly? 

So how often should I mow my lawn? 

Whether you have a big or small garden, the ‘Mohican’ lawn cut suits all. According to studies, your lawn (and its inhabitants) will be happiest with two lengths of grass: 

• Most of your lawn should be mowed every 4 weeks, at 1 or 2 inches height. This will give short flowers, like daisies and white clover, the chance to flourish and produce a lot of nectar. You’ll cut some down while mowing, but they come back quickly.  
• Parts of the lawn that are mowed less (or not at all) will boast a wider range of flowers. Some tall-grass plants, like field scabious, knapweed and oxeye daisy, take longer to reach flowering size. So they cannot bloom if the lawn gets cut regularly. 

How much lawn do you really need? 

It’s lovely to have a soft patch of grass for children and pets to play on. But does this have to take up our whole garden? Why not leave a few dedicated spaces wild? Or how about planting a wild flower meadow? Check out your local garden centre for wild flower seed mixes. Great fun with the kids guaranteed! 

Can I help if I don’t have a garden? 

Of course, not all of us have a garden. But even then, you can definitely still help the bees and other pollinators. This is even extra important in urban areas where there’s not many food resources for bees and their friends.

Make a little wildlife heaven on your balcony or window sills. There are many flowers that do well in pots, like jasmine, lavender, foxglove, honeysuckle, cosmos, coneflower, lupine, … So what are you waiting for: time to get buzzing! 

Blog article written by Caroline De Hulsters – conscious copywriter – www.wastelesswords.com

Want to help save bees and other wildlife? check out our save the bees collection here