![]() Some studies also indicate that less intense mowing practices lead to fewer pests, as well as potential cost savings of up to 36% for park managers that by reducing mowing frequency from 15 to 10 times per year. Meta-analyses that looked at results of many studies from Europe and North America found a significant increase in the abundance and species richness of butterflies and bees in less-frequently mowed lawns, and that increased mowing intensity resulted in a significant negative effect on plant diversity and insect diversity. Researchers in Massachusetts found 93 species of bees visiting lawn flowers, with the greatest diversity and abundance on lawns mowed every two or three weeks. In central Kentucky, 26 species of bees were recorded visiting dandelion and white clover in urban and suburban lawns. There are several studies that illustrate how reducing the frequency of mowing benefits bees, as well as butterflies, grasshoppers, and many other insects. Can you mow less all year or add flower species to your grass? The research Not mowing for a few weeks is a simple step to take, but it is only one step and more is needed to transform our neighborhoods. And while not mowing in May isn’t right for everyone or every region, the campaign can be a good tool for getting new people involved in pollinator conservation. Though no organization officially oversees No Mow May, many Bee City USA and Bee Campus USA affiliates choose to participate. Empowered by their success in 2020, the Appleton Bee City committee spread the word and attracted even more participants in 2021, and in 2022 it spread to communities across the country. Over 435 registered property owners participated that year. In 2020, residents of Appleton, Wisconsin, an affiliate of Bee City USA, became energized about No Mow May and they convinced their City Council to suspend their weed ordinance for the month of May. Late winter and early spring is a time when floral resources are often limited. The goal of No Mow May is to pause mowing during the month of May, allowing flowers to bloom in your lawn to help early season pollinators. No Mow May was first popularized by Plantlife, an organization based in the United Kingdom, but is now gaining traction across North America. One way to reduce mowing is by participating in No Mow April, No Mow May, or Low Mow Spring. Mowing less creates habitat and can increase the abundance and diversity of wildlife including bees and other pollinators. By allowing it to grow longer, and letting flowers bloom, your lawn can provide nectar and pollen to help your bee neighbors thrive. Floral resources may be hard to find, especially in urban and suburban landscapes. The start of the growing season is a critical time for hungry, newly emerged native bees. Re-thinking the American lawn can take a variety of forms from reducing mowing frequency or area mown to permanently converting lawn to a more diverse and natural landscape. When we think of habitat loss, we tend to imagine bulldozers and rutted dirt, but acres of manicured lawn are as much a loss of habitat as any development site. Grass-only lawns lack floral resources and nesting sites for bees and are often treated with pesticides that harm bees and other invertebrates. Lawns provide little benefit to wildlife, and are often harmful. ![]() Lawns are mowed, raked, fertilized, weeded, chemically treated, and watered-sucking up time, money, and other resources. Lawns cover 40 million acres, or 2%, of land in the US, making them the single largest irrigated crop we grow. It’s a gateway to understanding how we share our lawns with many small creatures. It’s more than long grass and dandelion blooms. “No Mow May” is a quick and catchy name for a movement that aims far beyond not mowing the yard for a month.
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