Why “No Mow May” Doesn’t Really Work, According to an Expert

If you are interested in pollinator-friendly garden practices and sustainable landscaping, you’ve probably heard of “No Mow May” before. The campaign encourages homeowners to retire their lawnmowers in May to help native pollinators as they emerge from hibernation. 

The idea is that lawn flowers such as dandelions can be a vital food source for pollinators like bees and butterflies when other blooms are scarce early in the season. By cutting back on lawn mowing for the month, these flowers can be left to grow to their full potential.

Some cities and municipalities even promote the movement by cutting back on city-wide mowing and encouraging residents to participate during May. 

While native pollinators undoubtedly need our help, experts caution that the No Mow May campaign isn’t actually as beneficial to the bees and butterflies as it claims to be. Here’s what you need to know about No Mow May’s benefits and drawbacks, as well as a few pollinator-friendly alternatives you can try instead.

No Mow May: Benefits and Drawbacks

No Mow May has gained popularity due to its simplicity and supposed benefits. But is it really effective, or is it just a feel-good campaign to help ease our guilt about the endangered status of native pollinators? Unfortunately, experts advise that it may be the latter.

Mary Phillips, Head of Native Plant Habitat Strategy/Certifications at the National Wildlife Federation, says that No Mow May offers few environmental benefits other than reduced carbon emissions from not using a mower (if you use a gas mower instead of battery-powered, that is).

Otherwise, unless your lawn is mainly comprised of native wildflowers over traditional turfgrass, allowing it to grow untamed does little to help feed the bees and butterflies. 

In fact, No Mow May has more drawbacks than benefits, according to Phillips. These include the potential to promote the establishment of invasive species in the lawn, allow woody seedlings to grow to problematic sizes, and receive neighborly complaints of an untidy lawn.

Ultimately, turfgrass lawns inherently provide few (if any) benefits to the environment, and practices like No Mow May do nothing to change that, however well-intentioned they may be.

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Beneficial Alternatives to No Mow May

So while No Mow May might be a bust, there are several other ways you can help the pollinators this spring and make your yard more wildlife-friendly. Phillips offers a few suggestions below.

Leave the Grass a Bit Longer When Mowing

Neglecting to mow your lawn entirely won’t do much, but Phillips advises that cutting your grass to a tidy yet slightly long length (three inches or higher) is a great way to make your turfgrass lawn more sustainable. Leaving the grass longer rather than shaving it down to a mere couple of inches helps to shade the soil line, retain water, and discourage weeds from growing.

Reduce Areas of Turfgrass in Your Lawn

One of the best ways to make your lawn more pollinator-friendly is to reduce or eliminate the amount of turfgrass. 

“Consider native lawn alternatives like mosses, sedges, and groundcovers,” Phillips says. “This will eliminate the need for mowing and chemical additives and lessen the need for irrigation.”

If replacing your whole lawn doesn’t feel feasible, consider reducing the size of it instead. Creating new garden beds (perfect for housing beneficial native species) or seeding large patches of wildflowers or other sustainable lawn alternatives like clover are all great options.

Plant Native Species

Above all else, the best way to help native pollinators is by prioritizing native plants in your yard. Native wildflowers are an essential food source, while native grasses, shrubs, trees, and other plants are crucial to the overall ecosystem and can provide much-needed habitat to a host of local wildlife. Phillips recommends checking out the National Wildlife Federation’s Native Plant Finder to find species appropriate for your region.

Reduce or Eliminate Pesticides 

Finally, reduce or eliminate commercial pesticides and fertilizers in your yard. These harmful chemicals pose a risk to native pollinators and can be deadly to countless other plant, animal, and insect species, all essential parts of the local ecosystem.