Are you ready for No Mow May? Five experts reveal how to prepare your lawn for this nature-friendly option

No Mow May is an annual campaign that encourages people to let their lawns grow wild throughout the month of May. Urban and suburban gardens can become havens for wildlife, wildflowers, and grasses, helping to feed bees, butterflies, and pollinators throughout the summer.

James Ewens, gardening expert at Green Feathers point outs, “Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, are all contributing to the endangering of pollinators, so it’s crucial that these critters are protected and provided for, and this can start in our own gardens.”

Giving mowing a miss for a month is a smart low-maintenance garden idea, but with some serious benefits for the environment. But before you dive in, check out what the experts have to say to make your No Mow May a success.

James Ewens

James is a gardening and wildlife expert at Green Feathers, who supply bird box and wildlife cameras. James creates a space for learning about wildlife, and providing information on how to best take care of them – all while enjoying their company through real-time footage.

Get ready for No Mow May

Before you embrace the benefits of No Mow May there are a few things you can do to prepare your garden. Ewens suggests, “Add some more wildflowers to the lawn to optimise that food source and habitat for our wildlife friends.”

But before you do, he has one tip: “One vital thing some gardeners forget when it comes to adding flowers or plants to their lawn – remove your cuttings first." He adds, “Raking your lawn to remove cuttings will prevent nutrients from building up that can stifle the growth of wildflowers.”

Graham Smith MCIHort, gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, explains how to get the best platform for growth: “Wildflowers tend to emerge better from a short lawn, so you should continue to mow your lawn as usual before May unless you are hoping for spring wildflowers.”

It's worth noting that you don't need to use your whole lawn for No Mow May. You can choose an area you want to leave to grow and mow the rest. When ready, James Lewis, gardening expert from MyBuilder.com says, “Do a final short cut, rake up clippings, and look for any problem plants or invasive species, such as bindweed. He adds, “Remove what you can, and plant any desirable plants beneficial to biodiversity, such as Lavender.”

Try these to help with No Mow May

Graham Smith MCIHort

Graham Smith MCIHort is the National Sales Manager at LBS Horticulture. He has extensive knowledge in the horticultural and gardening industries, and prides himself on using this to help gardeners of all skills create their perfect outdoor space.

Expert tips for No Mow May

1. Nominate your No Mow May area

It might not be feasible to let your whole garden grow wild during May (it might spoil your long garden ideas), so carefully select areas that will work for you. Lewis says, “If you don’t plan to let your whole garden run wild, choose the areas you are willing to let go.” He adds, “Choose to keep access paths mown, or areas of high footfall.” Alternatively, “Just leave a small patch to grow while maintaining the rest of their garden”

2. Choose what to grow

Lewis says, “Grasses and plants are not equal when it comes to biodiversity and attracting pollinators.” He adds, “In fact, some invasive species may even be harmful. Consider planting types of Bluebell, Rosemary, or Wallflower, all of which are very attractive to bees and insects.”

But you might already have species that work well in your garden, as Smith explains, “Flowering clover and daisies attract pollinators to your garden, and pollinators are vital for fertilising plants so that they can develop seeds or produce fruit.” He adds, “Other 'weeds' such as dandelions will provide an important source of nectar for wildlife and are thought of as a superfood for bees and butterflies, especially as they flower earlier in the year.” So make sure you don’t get rid of them.

3. Disturb the lawn

Before you tackle your mowing your lawn, come June, Lewis suggests you help out the local wildlife, “After a month of no disturbance, there may well be a plethora of wildlife in your grass, such as frogs or hedgehogs. Before you do any mowing, try and disturb the grass so they move off.” He adds, “Also, make sure to check before you cut the blades really short, to avoid injuring any wildlife.”

4. Be prepared to reseed

Leaving your lawn may mean it gets damaged when you restore it. If this is the case Lewis says, “Be prepared to re-seed where the brown patches can’t be saved.” He adds, “To do this, scarify your lawn (remove all dead grass and debris), aerate the area of reseeding, and level the soil. Once this is done, distribute the seeds evenly over the soil, lightly cover them and moisten the soil. Keep the area well watered.”

James Lewis

James Lewis is based in Bexley; he runs a successful landscaping business known for transforming outdoor spaces into beautiful, functional extensions of the home. With years of experience, James leads a skilled team that specialises in designing and building gardens that enhance both the look and usability of a property.

What to do at the end of No Mow May

Natasha Wright

Tash is a huge animal lover and joined Naturewatch Foundation in September 2021 and supports all ongoing campaigns. She qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017 and has recently completed a degree in Environmental Studies.

When May ends, you can jump straight in and mow your lawn, or not. Natasha Wright, wildlife vet and campaign co-ordinator at Naturewatch Foundation suggests a measured approach: “If you do choose to return to mowing, it’s best to start gradually and make sure to check for signs of wildlife before mowing.” Check out our how to cut long grass guide to make sure you don’t damage your grass.

She adds, “If animals are present, delay mowing or gently relocate them. When you do begin, it’s best to start from one side and mow gradually across, rather than beginning in the middle, which allows insects a chance to escape.”

When mowing, one tip Wright suggests is to leave garden edges throughout to provide year-round refuge for insects and small animals.

On a more practical level Nick Ee, Gardening product and training manager at BLACK+DECKER says, “Use a strimmer (like this Black + Decker Strimmer Grass Trimmer from Amazon) to cut away some of the grass length before going in with a lawnmower and make sure to set your mower blades high before lowering them over time to avoid damaging your mower and shocking the lawn.”

For continued support of wildlife throughout the rest of the year, Wright says, “Homeowners can continue by creating a dedicated wildlife corner in their garden.” She suggests, “Adding natural features like logs, shrubs, or even a small pond. Simple additions like vertical planters, hanging baskets, or even planting a few trees or hedges can increase biodiversity.”

If you want a project to help wildlife, Ee says, “Try building something like a bee hotel.” He adds, “This is a fun and inexpensive way to support wildlife after No Mow May with a bit of DIY.”

If you do build or buy a bee hotel (like this Woodside Wooden Insect & Bee House from Amazon), Ee says, “Mount the hotel in a sunny, sheltered, south-facing spot near bee-friendly plants for best results.”

Nick Ee

Nick has over 10 years’ experience working in the home improvement industry. Prior to joining BLACK+DECKER, he was self-employed running his own van of tools, and through that has gained a wealth of real-world experience in the residential construction and gardening industry.

No Mow May means you will be doing a lot less mowing, but when June comes around, you need to think about lawn care. It's also a good time to check out the latest garden trends, along with some smart small garden design ideas if you have a small space.