Instead of “No Mow May,” Try “Slow Mow Summer.”

Shortly trimmed lawns give us space for dogs and children to play. They also prevent our neighbors from filing complaints with the city government or the homeowners association. But a short-cropped lawn is a monoculture without flowers. Some organizations encourage a “No Mow May” to allow the wildflowers in the grass to bloom, benefiting pollinators, before we start mowing the grass this season.

There’s a huge caveat to note here: environmental groups argue that May No Mow will do little for pollinators if all you do is let the grass grow for a month and then go back to normal lawn care. (It may even be harmful to your grass.) Instead, consider how you can help pollinators in your yard through other approaches, such as “slow mowing in the summer.”

What is No Mow May?

No Mow May, created by Plantlife UK, is described as a movement that aims to “keep pollinators happy, tackle pollution, reduce extreme heat in cities and lock atmospheric carbon underground.”

Plantlife is asking people to pledge not to mow the lawn in May, and is also encouraging members to discuss plant diversity with their neighbors and on social media. Lawns have taken over areas that were once grasslands, leaving pollinators with fewer flowers to feed on. People really should cultivate gardens and meadows, not just lawns , they argue. No Mow May is a step towards this.

Is it really a good idea to stop mowing the grass in May?

According to most US environmental organizations: no. The Xerces Invertebrate Conservation Society writes in a blog post : “Let’s be honest: if all you do is allow dandelions and other weeds to bloom, it’s not good habitat for [pollinators]—and any benefits will be undone if you power up your mower and restart as if nothing had changed since June arrived. We can’t pat ourselves on the back and say, “Hurray, we saved the bees.”

The University of Minnesota Bee Labagrees : “People shouldn’t take the ‘No Mow’ catchphrase literally.”

Besides its minimal environmental benefits, No Mow May has the potential to harm your grass. Lawns are healthiest if you only trim part of their height , so you don’t want to let your grass grow a foot tall and then cut it back to nothing. (That late May cut won’t do your lawnmower any good either.)

What to do instead of No Mow May

Conservation organizations appreciate the sentiment of No Mow May, but prefer that we focus our energies on more holistic approaches such as Slow Mow Spring or Slow Mow Summer, extending the mission of No Mow May into the entire season.

Here are a few things that can help your yard provide more food for pollinators and create a better habitat for other living creatures, such as birds:

• Mow less often during the season and use higher blades on your mower. Longer grass keeps the soil moist, and a higher cutting height allows smaller flowers to bloom.

• Plant native and beneficial flowers in your lawn , such as clover, self-healing clover , and violets.

• Grow a mini meadow or wildflower garden separate from your lawn.

• Grow pollinator-friendly plants other than those found in grass. Shrubs, garden plants and window boxes can all contribute.

The Bee Lab also notes thattiming your mowing correctly, depending on what’s growing in your yard, can help . For example, you can let weeds like dandelions bloom and then mow them down before they go to seed. This allows pollinators to visit flowers but prevents the spread of specific weeds.

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