Master gardeners suggest better alternative to ‘No Mow May’
Photos from Master Gardeners: This and other “NO Mow Grow Zone” signs are posted at the 4-H Fairgrounds in areas where the grounds manager will be mowing less frequently. The signs can be purchased from the Master Gardeners for $30 apiece.
Press Release, Orleans County CCE Master Gardener Sustainability Committee
KNOWLESVILLE – If you generally keep your lawn mowed, “No Mow May” however well intentioned, may not be the best for your lawn or for native pollinators.
The “No Mow May” movement began in the UK where their lawn composition and native pollinators are very different than here in WNY.
Different native pollinators forage at different times of the season and use a variety of flowers from trees, shrubs, garden and native plants, so your lawn of predominantly turf grasses may not be as helpful as we might think in May.
Mown grass thrives best when only 1/3 of its height is cut at a time, so letting it grow really tall and then cutting back to normal mowing height of 3-4 inches will send your lawn into shock!
Leaving your lawn to simply grow tall will not turn it magically into a meadow since turf grass does not automatically become wildflowers.
So instead of just not mowing during May when grass is growing at its fastest, consider mowing less throughout the year to reduce air pollution, increase biodiversity of plants and beneficial insects & pollinators, reducing noxious weeds, slowing rainwater run-off, and saving time & money!
One approach to less mowing is to create “Mow” & “NoMow” zones around your property. At the Orleans County CCE Fairgrounds we have established “area rugs” (versus “wall to wall carpet”) of Mow Zones around buildings and where activities are held regularly. These areas are mown at a height of 4 inches. Areas that are used for special events are only mowed prior to those events. The remaining “NoMow” areas are only cut once a year for hay production.
In your yard, you might be able to identify unused areas that can be planted to flowering native plants, a small meadow, or simply left unmowed and undisturbed (please check with your community’s codes).
The more native plantings areas we can provide, the more pollinators and beneficial insects like fireflies and ladybugs we will have. Less mowing by keeping your lawn at a 4 inch height will also allow any clover, self-heal, or other small lawn flowers to bloom for the very important pollinators!
Contact OCCCE for resources on creating a healthy, pollinator friendly yard & “No Mow Grow Zone” signs.
Resources:
https://beecityusa.org/no-mow-may-low-mow-spring-faqs/#
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-news/what-not-mowing-may-could-mean-your-lawn
https://www.nrdc.org/stories/more-sustainable-and-beautiful-alternatives-grass-lawn
https://www.healthyyardsmonroecounty.org/
https://extension.umd.edu/resource/lawn-alternatives
Dandelions are an important forage plant for pollinators like bees and other insects.
