WHO KNEW No Mow May Has Evolved?
No Mow May—a movement encouraging homeowners to refrain from mowing their lawns until June—began in the UK in 2018 to increase hay meadows. Hay meadows are a traditional method of farming in which meadows are left to grow from Spring through Summer, then cut back in late August or early September for hay. According to UK-based National Trust, hay meadows can support 50 plants per square meter and are a rich source of food and habitat for pollinators and birds. Since the 1930s, over 97% of the UK’s hay meadows have disappeared. No Mow May has helped reverse this trend.
No Mow May has become popular in the US, as well. Starting in Wisconsin, the movement has spread to many communities, including ours. Sustainable Hanover has encouraged residents to allow early flowering plants—like dandelions, violets and clover—to grow unhindered for the month of May to help pollinators find food. But the US is not the UK—few of us have hay meadows—and a lot of what grows in our lawns during No Mow May is invasive. Yes, dandelions are an early source of food for pollinators, but they are not native, and they lack essential amino acids, making them less than nutritious for bees. Still, in some areas, they might be the only food source available.
What to do? No Mow May has helped to educate people about the importance of cultivating food and habitat on our properties for pollinators and birds. But a few tweaks to the concept might be even more beneficial. Instead of not mowing for the entire month of May, switch to mowing every two weeks all summer long (as opposed to once a week). This will give bees a chance to forage more food while keeping invasives in check. If you must mow every week, raise the blades on your mower, so the grass is higher, and allow clover to flourish. Clover, though not native, is an important nectar source for bees and a key player in keeping your soil healthy, eliminating the need to water, fertilize, or use herbicides.
You can be proactive by planting clumps of native bushes and small trees. Many of these produce early spring flowers for pollinators, and they provide essential habitat for birds, as well as serving as host plants for caterpillars—invaluable members of a healthy ecosystem. Plants, birds and insects will be happier if you plant things together, rather than spread out in ones or twos. Not sure what to plant? Visit the folks at Cedar Circle off route 5 in Thetford for advice and a large variety of native plants. Or try Gardener’s Supply on Mechanic St. in Lebanon, or Brown’s on route 113 in Thetford.
So, go ahead and mow! Just try to mow less frequently, go electric, raise your blades, and convert some lawn to native shrubs. You’ll save money in the long run and improve the health of your surroundings.