No Mow May is a starting , but there ’s much more you’re able to do to help pollinator and the major planet while caring for your lawn .
The last few years have seen the spread ofNo Mow May , a campaign that encourages sept to hold off mowing their lawn in natural spring to reduce fogy fuel emissions and help pollinator . On the face of it , it seems almost too good to be true – you could do a lot of good things for the surround by doing literally nothing . So perhaps it ’s not surprising thatletting your lawn develop for a monthhas fallen short of its promise . And what about the rest of the growing time of year ?
Rather than No Mow May , the conception of a Slow Mow Summer could be deserving considering as a way to achieve healthier landscape painting for our category and neighbors . Here ’s how mowing less often through the warmer months can turn urban and suburban lawn intovaluable habitat for butterflies , bees , and birds , while providing other environmental welfare .
Credit:Helin Loik-Tomson / Getty Images
Helin Loik - Tomson / Getty Images
What Is Slow Mow Summer?
scientist at theUniversity of Minnesota Bee Labsuggest “ Slow Mow Summer ” as an alternative to No Mow May . This concept advocates for mow infrequently all summer long while also looking toreduce lawn spacesin general . When replacing part of your lawn , the key is to diversify your place with an increased issue of plant species and flora types ( herbaceous perennials , pasture , sedge , shrub , trees ) , instead of just replacing one monoculture with another .
For model , many folks arebroadcasting dutch white clover into their lawnsas a lawn alternative in the hopes it also render floral rewards for insects . However , it ’s still a near monoculture that also does n’t serve as a host plant for caterpillars ( and caterpillar are important baby bird food for thought in nesting season , not to mention those caterpillars turn into butterflies if they survive the wench ) .
Plus , that non - native clover mostly hold non - aboriginal dearest bees that evolved with this flora , rather than aboriginal bees . Taken collectively , our aboriginal bees cater superscript pollination compare to honey bees , while some 25 % of them are specialists with specific groups of native plant ( meaning the plant and bee rely upon one another as they co - germinate to use each other either for pollen or pollination ) .
One of the expert things you’re able to do after being inspired by No Mow May is to garden with plants aboriginal to your zip code , and to include a diversity of species that supply flowered resource from bound through autumn .
Tips for Mowing Less
When the destination is to pout less orbit less often through a more diverse landscape such as adesigned hayfield garden , you may be implicated about the coming into court of your railway yard and also increase your exposure to pests like tick . There are a few bare strategies to help you accomplish your destination while hold back the neighbors felicitous and the defective bugs off .
1. Create wider paths through the landscape.
Paths avail show intention and leave accession points , but making them wider help you avoid sweep up against botany where retick “ quest ” on leaf border , progress to out to hitch a drive . One of the easiest ways to do this is by keeping a broad course mowed through a meadow area .
2. Increase plant diversity and habitat cover.
Encourage predators of specie that serve as disease vector by including habitat for them . retrieve owls , foxes , and coyotes , who prey on white - footed mice , a transmitter for Lyme disease that beat catch when feast on the mice .
3. Choose shorter plants.
Keep your plant under 2 - 3 feet magniloquent . pollinator still will have muckle to forage , but it will reduce the attractiveness to tick . short plant also can facilitate with the perceptual experience of an intentional planting , versus have tall flora that may look " scrawny . "
4. Provide a sign.
When create a diverse landscape in place of lawn , a sign explain what ’s conk on and why avail a lot when it comes to quell on unspoilt terms with your neighbour and your local skunk regulation enforcer . A fewhabitat certification programsoffer hardy ones .
late inquiry indicates that ticks are a minimum worry in urban and suburban yard . For example , a 5 - year research work calledThe Tick Projectfound that there are few ticks in grassy area liken to wooded ones . A 2 - year survey by the US Forest Service in Massachusetts show that even lawn / meadow space at 10 inches high did not harbor check mark populations .
However , you should always spray yourself with a repellent and do a consistence check after being outside .
Taking the Next Step
What No Mow May lead off , you could take to the next level with Slow Mow Summer . By reducing lawn and using a divers premix of aboriginal plant life match to the website ( territory , light , moisture),you’ll use less waterand fertilizer whilesupporting beesand caterpillars . You ’ll also increase ecosystem services through that plant diverseness such as mitigating violent storm water runoff via dense , layered landscape that also help oneself clean and cool down our urban air .
So go forwards and adjudicate a Slow Mow Summer if you desire to as you think about how you may really move the needle in your grounds . Visit a meadow garden in your area to get aspiration from the plant species that thrive there . Watch asnative beesforage on blooms and birds nab caterpillars and beetles to course their young . Then , through organizations such asPollinator Partnership , theXerces Society , Wild Ones , Audubon , and theNational Wildlife Federation , con more about those plant life species and the wildlife they support so you could recreate the ecosystem in your one thousand .
Why ? Because your landscape matters and can aid rick the tide for a intelligent , more resilient future that a monoculture of lawn ( cut down or unmowed ) will never provide .
