Recently we were asked – Is your company adopting the No Mow May mandate? 

Contractual obligations not withstanding, we investigated. 

No Mow May comes from a movement in the UK. The terrain, soil, native plants and grasses in the UK are more likely to have wildflowers growing in amongst the lawn so it makes sense that scientists in the UK asked the public to look out for those wildflowers and other plants in their lawns before mowing*. It allows their native plants such as the (UK common) bird’s foot trefoil (yellow) to grow and be a rich source of food for 140 different insect species….but that is the UK. 

Here in Ontario Canada, we don’t have many of the pollinator-friendly flowers from the UK**. Our weather patterns are different along with our terrain and soil. Our lawns are planted and maintained to not have wildflowers growing in it. Our wildflowers are usually planted separately in garden beds and planters. The University of Guelph Turfgrass Experts warn us that No Mow May could actually do more harm than good*** The article says that many early-flowering weeds that can be found in lawns, such as dandelions, are an incomplete source of nutrition for pollinators. In addition, creating temporary habitats in a long lawn only to cut it down isn’t helpful to the pollinators.   

As well, this practice can encourage the growth of undesirable weeds – such as thistles and knotweed making it very difficult to remove once they are rooted.  Cutting the lawn when it’s too long can also deplete it’s energy source and there’s an increase risk of scalping the lawn making it more susceptible to insects and disease. Let’s not forget the rodents and Ontario’s biting insects (fleas, ticks, mosquitos – Oh My!) that LOOOOVE to live in a nice long lawn.  

There are better ways to support pollinators than not mowing the lawn. Landscape Ontario has several suggestions including creating/adding pollinator friendly flowers, trees and shrubs to gardens/yards. 

For more information on how we can help plant pollinator gardens click here

sources

*https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/28/no-mow-may-uk-gardeners-urged-to-let-wildflowers-and-grass-grow

** https://landscapeontario.com/to-mow-or-not-to-mow-in-may 

***https://news.uoguelph.ca/2023/04/no-mow-may-bad-idea-for-canadian-lawns-say-u-of-g-turfgrass-experts/