There’s a trend going around in urban areas to aid pollinators and promote natural growth. Perhaps you’ve seen the signs on social media or in the front yards of your neighborhood. Maybe you’ve seen Raygun’s t-shirts advertised. Or maybe you have no idea what I’m referring to.
No Mow May is a current campaign aimed at helping pollinators during their vulnerable springtime emergence. Created by the British conservation nonprofit Plantlife, it has spread over the ocean and become an increasingly popular trend in North America. The goal is to keep your lawn long for a whole month to promote the growth of wildflowers for habitat and forage for early spring pollinators. Early pollinators, such as queen bumblebees, need nectar to begin creating their colonies for the summer.
Americans love our lawns of non-native Kentucky Bluegrass. We love to show off our perfectly manicured blades –no weeds in sight –with pristine cut lines. We weed, fertilize, water, chemically alter, all on top of the mowing. With all the time put into our grass, the reality is that that expanse of greenery doesn’t really do much for wildlife. A monoculture lawn lacks flowering plants for pollinators and is so chemically treated that it can actually harm animals. Pollinators and native plants are already sparse in urban areas without the danger of pesticides and herbicides to top it off.
If the idea of converting your entire lawn to a native meadow is a bit too shocking for your system, you can still participate in creating havens for pollinators. You can designate a certain area of your property to remain wild, such as mowing the front lawn but leaving the back to grow. Or consider converting an area of lawn to something entirely different: a rain garden, pollinator garden, or a native grass alternative. My parents keep a pristine lawn near their house while also caring for a ten-acre expanse of native prairie. The options are endless!
Not only does reducing your mowing help pollinators, it also saves water by helping your lawn become more resilient to drought, and reduces emissions from your lawn equipment.
With the continuing effects of climate change, our pollinators need more help than ever. To learn more about No Mow May, visit Plantlife’s webpage.
Be sure to let Iowa IPL know if you participate in some form of No Mow May! We would love to share your grass and flower growing journey and sightings of pollinators. And perhaps the reward of increased visits from bees and butterflies will encourage you to continue your efforts into Let It Bloom June?