While No Mow May is an annual trend we're all encouraged to do each year, is it always the best idea? Although the benefits to flora and fauna are well documented, is it a similar concept to the well-known advert that tells us 'a dog is not just for Christmas?'
Could No Mow May in fact be risky to wildlife if we start again with a freshly cut lawn at the start of June? And are we missing the message of what No Mow May is actually about?
We share 5 ways you can embrace No Mow May, and explain why thinking about extending it past May could be a better approach.
What is No Mow May?
The idea of the No Mow May movement focuses on asking the millions of homeowners with gardens in the UK to think about ditching their lawnmower in May, in order to embrace a wilder approach to gardening.
However, what's often missed, is the the fact that Plantlife, the conservation charity who launched the movement in 2019, encourage gardeners to extend the approach throughout the summer as well. It's about less is more, so even if you only leave a small patch to grow free throughout the summer, this will be more beneficial than nothing at all.
As the website clearly states: "No Mow May is the perfect starting point for summer. You don’t have to leave the whole thing long, in fact, leaving a mix of grass lengths in your lawn from No Mow May and beyond means you’re giving nature the boost it deserves. From No Mow May, carry on the No Mow Movement, through Let it Bloom June and beyond, to manage your lawn for nature all year round."
It's something that James Ewans, gardening and wildlife expert at Green Feathers supports too.
“No Mow May is a brilliant initiative, and a fantastic way to get people thinking differently when it comes to their garden design. However, it’s important that people see the movement as a starting point, rather than a one-month solution," he agrees.
"The real way to have a positive impact on wildlife comes from creating year-round habits, not a sudden change in May followed by a complete chop in June – which can actually disrupt nesting insects, tiny mammals and overwintering species."
James Ewens is a gardening expert at Green Feathers, the UK’s leading supplier of bird box and wildlife cameras, and passionate about all-things-sustainability and the environment.
5 ways to make No Mow May a long-term approach
1. For larger gardens, create a mini meadow
If space is not an issue, then designing and nurturing a fully eco-friendly garden is obviously the best way to ensure the philosophy behind not mowing in May extends year round.
“If you have the space available, leave a section of your lawn to grow long and wild all year round," suggests James Ewans, adding how you can also go the extra mile by introducing native wildflowers. "This can make a huge difference by providing nectar for pollinators and shelter for small creatures and insects throughout the year," he explains.
Scatter this set of 5 seedballs across the area of land you've designated for a meadow and watch the flora and fauna thrive
2. Consider 'wild corners' if space is limited
If small garden ideas are your only outlet, then this doesn't mean you can't adopt a nature-inspired approach too, says James, as even small unmown sections of lawn can provide a home for wildlife.
“Even if you’re a little limited on space, you can create a tucked away-patch and leave it to get slightly overgrown with native grasses and plants or nettles," he suggests. "These areas become vital refuges for insects such as beetles and butterflies, especially as temperatures start to drop in autumn."
It could even be the starting point for transforming your outdoor space into a charming cottage garden idea.
3. Create wild planters and pots
When your outdoor space only comprises hard landscaping, such as patios or decking, you can still find ways to make your garden a haven for wildlife.
"If you’ve got a patio with garden planters, or your garden is rather pot-heavy, you can try planting pollinator-friendly plants like lavender, thyme, and marigolds to provide rich sources of nectar through the summer months," suggests James.
Create wildlife friendly planters or borders
This smaller lavender will certainly bring bees and insects to your borders or planters
Fill this raised planter with plants and herbs that are known to attract pollinators
This vibrant orange marigold flourishes in borders or in pots
4. Don't rush to clear up fallen seed heads and leaves
Although we're not advocating a completely unkempt garden, removing certain natural debris can reduce the opportunities available to small insects in your garden, warns James Ewans.
“It may be tough, but resist the urge to tidy everything up," he says. "Seed heads can be important sources of food in autumn and winter, while leaf litter provides much-needed shelter for insects and invertebrates.”
5. Mow smarter, not harder
From the moment you make the first cut of the year, through to the point at which it's time to stop cutting your grass, changing your viewpoint on how your lawn should look can be an easy way to make no mow may last longer.
“Rather than chopping back your entire lawn as soon as the calendar flips over to June, try a rotational mowing approach, where you leave different sections longer at different times so wildlife always has somewhere to retreat," suggests James
Experts at British Garden Centres also suggest leaving the strip of grass along a fence or wall untouched. While it may only be a thin margin, it's useful to wildlife because it's sheltered and undisturbed. Hedgehogs, ground beetles and solitary bees all use them making your mowing easier, and their life better.
How to tackle the first lawn cut in June
If, however, you do want to get the mower back out in June, then be sure to check you aren't going to harm any wildlife before you start.
“If you do decide to take part in No Mow May, the key before revving your engines in June is to go slowly and perform a few checks. Long and unkempt grass can quickly become home to beetles, ground-nesting insects, and frogs – so try to clear critters before you mow," says James Ewans.
Going straight back to a short cut in June can stress the lawn and disturb anything living in it, agree the experts at British Garden Centres, suggesting that homeowners drop the mower height gradually over a couple of cuts, rather than taking it all off at once.
Or, you could even start with just a garden path mown through the middle, as this will give children and dogs somewhere to run without flattening the rest of the meadow-like lawn.
But if a full cut is your preferred option, James suggests the following approach.
“Go in stages – starting from one edge of your garden and moving across, over a series of different days will give wildlife time to make a move, as opposed to a full cut in a single day," he advises. "And, take the time to inspect for any visible insect or small mammal activity before you start on each new section."
For more ways of making your garden more wildlife-friendly, check out ways to attract birds to your garden, and make sure that once the winter arrives, you understand the rules and regulations about disturbing protected wildlife species in your garden.
