As the weather warms, and the ground thaws, many homeowners will notice the return of bees. When these tiny pollinators wake up from overwintering, they are hungry, and focused on one thing: getting their first meal. With this in mind (and the declining bee population) the “No Mow May” movement was born. “No Mow May” was popularized by Plantlife in the UK, but in recent years, American organizations such as Bee City USA have brought this trend to the United States.
The movement encourages homeowners to forego mowing their lawns for the entire month of May as a holistic approach to the earth’s declining pollinator population. Allowing lawns to grow wild creates a natural habitat for dandelions and other flowering plants to thrive, providing a source of nutrition for hungry early emerging pollinating bees.
The first town in America to recognize “No Mow May” was Appleton, Wisconsin in 2020. That year, Dr. Israel Del Toro and Dr. Relena Ribbons, two assistant professors at Lawrence University, were able to convince the town to lift the weed ordinance for the month of May and allow residents to legally grow out their lawns.
Over four hundred homeowners decided to participate and Del Toro and Ribbons’s peer-reviewed study presented astounding statistics. According to their article published by the National Library of Medicine, “Median bee abundances were nearly five times higher and bee richness was three times higher in unmowed lawns relative to regularly mowed plots.” (Del Toro and Ribbons). Simply put: it worked. Early pollinators flocked to the “no mow” yards and flourished.
Pollinators play a vital role in the life cycle of some of our major crops and without them, our food sources and nutritional variety would be significantly impacted. And if that doesn’t alarm you, maybe this will: coffee would essentially disappear. Albert Einstein predicted that if bees were to become extinct, humanity would be able to sustain themselves for only four years thereafter. Now, with modern technology and food manufacturing, this may no longer be the case as it was in Einstein’s day, but our nutrition and access to fresh, organic, fruits and vegetables would certainly be affected.
Unmowed lawns attracting pollinators is a positive step in the right direction for our planet, however, it doesn’t come without caution. Growing your lawn reduces the need for watering due to the longer blades creating shade for the roots, however when grass grows too tall, it has an adverse effect on the plant. In fact, some lawns don’t produce healthy or proper nutrition for bees at all! Tall grass is also an ideal environment for rodents and ticks which can carry diseases and bring them into your home.
Initially, growing grass long can help the environment by requiring less watering and reduce sound pollution from lawn mowers. However when grass surpasses it’s ideal height, the weight of the grass becomes cumbersome for the plant, and it will begin to fall over onto itself and surrounding grass blades. When the grass creates a blanket of collapsed blades, the retained moisture initially good for the plant will become trapped and can grow fungus as well as spread disease. Additionally, when cutting grass, it is advised to not cut more than one third of the blade away for the health of the plant. “Cutting more than one third of the grass blade at the end of a No Mow period disrupts the plant’s ability to photosynthesize food, causing damage to its root system” (Nagro). Disrupting photosynthesis interrupts both chlorophyll and oxygen production.
The most common flowering plant according to the data collected at the end of the first No Mow May in Appleton was the dandelion and it appeared in 100% of the lawns surveyed. While it seems that bees enjoy feasting on these bright yellow buds, the dandelion is actually a poor source of nutrition and lacks proper amino acids for the pollen to be beneficial.
The American Bee Journal released an article citing, “research has shown that a diet of pure dandelion pollen will hinder larval development in mason bees, prevent brood production in honey bees, and cause 100% larval rejection in bumble bees” (Burlew).
The Journal of Economic Entomology similarly posted a report on the nutritional deficiency of dandelions and concluded that, “Generally, dandelion pollen was low relative to honey bee requirements in valine and isoleucine and low in leucine and arginine. The reported poor brood-rearing capability of dandelion pollen appears to be the result of multi amino acid deficiency” (Loper and Cohen). Bees need a nutrient rich meal for optimal survival, and dandelions are essentially “junk food.”
Overgrown lawns roll out the red carpet for rodent and tick infestations and unless you want some uninvited guests showing up at your Memorial Day barbeque, you may want to second guess growing out your lawn. Bee City USA, one of the nations prime No Mow May cheerleaders suggests, “Mowing less creates habitat and can increase the abundance and diversity of wildlife including bees and other pollinators,” and while this may be true, they don’t elaborate on the term wildlife or the associated dangers.
Rodents are notorious for spreading disease and creating unsanitary conditions which is particularly worrisome if there are children or pets around. They are continuously defecating and urinating while crawling through unsanitary spaces. When the rodents make their way into your kitchens to look for food, they will contaminate your cabinets, chew through cereal boxes, and spread excrement tainting everything they touch. The World Health Organization mentions that rodents could be a natural reservoir for Monkeypox, not to mention they carry ticks and when brought into your home, can put you and your family at risk for contracting Lyme Disease.
Ticks are a constant battle for us here in the United States. They are a traveling parasite that attach themselves to a host and feed. Most ticks prefer different hosts for each stage of their lifecycle, and that is how illnesses such as Lyme Disease can get passed. Ticks can be brought into your home by pets, or even by latching onto your clothing. According to the CDC, the best way to prevent ticks is to frequently mow your lawn, especially near your home and around the edge of your property line. If the CDC is recommending frequent mowing to help prevent diseases, then it should be taken seriously.
Mice have been known to carry up to 35 different diseases such as salmonella and hantavirus, which can be spread through their urine or droppings. (Health Hazards Posed by Rodents). Michael Sarnese of Richland Pest and Bee Control warns, “Rodents constantly urinate and defecate as they travel. They can also spread diseases by carrying fleas, ticks, or mites into your home.” Rodents find solace in tall grass as it is the perfect habitat for them to thrive. If you decide to grow out your lawn to help bees, also know that you’d be helping your local rodent population to flourish. You’d not only be putting your home at risk of a rodent infestation, but also your neighbors.
If you are still adamant about growing your lawn despite the risks of spreading disease and rodent damage to your home, one thing you can do to prevent rodents from entering is to have your local exterminator perform an exclusion service. DIY pest control isn’t recommended as it is difficult to keep up with the rapid rate at which rodents reproduce, and if a professional isn’t consulted early on, you may find yourself in an overwhelming situation despite DIY efforts.
The first step is to treat any infestations that are currently in your home. After the population is under control, the exclusion service would be performed. Exclusion is the process of inspecting the exterior of your home for any holes through which rodents can enter the structure. Astoundingly, mice can fit through a hole the size of a dime and rats can fit in a hole the size of a quarter! Many gaps are found around windows and doors, in cracks in and around the foundation, underneath siding, and around holes for cable, electrical, plumbing, and gas lines. Because there are so many possible entry points, it’s best to hire a seasoned professional who knows where and what to look for, and how to properly fill them. Many companies such as Richland Pest and Bee Control will also offer a warranty on their work, giving you extra peace of mind.
If the downside of No Mow May has deterred you from growing out your lawn this year, there are other, more effective ways to help the early pollinators this season.
The best way to help early pollinators, simply put, is to plant flowers. Because dandelions are not a proper source of nutrition, planting early season flowers will help the bee population in a much healthier way. Some great options are tulips, daffodils, hyacinths, and English lavender. Butterflies are also attracted to these flowers, so you will see a beautiful display of nature in addition to helping the pollinators. Be sure to plant the flowers away from your home as they can also attract squirrels and rabbits as well as other insects. Planting a flower garden can also be a fun family activity, and can teach children about the different stages of plant growth!
After the early season flowers have come and gone, you can further support your pollinators by planting annuals in your garden. Annuals are planted yearly, so you can add variety to your garden every year. Sunflowers and zinnias are a great option for bees, and since they can grow to great heights, they can also provide a natural fence for extra backyard privacy. Whatever you choose to plant, make sure to research if the flower variety you are considering is helpful for pollinators. Richland Pest and Bee Control often sends out flower packets to clients to promote pollinator survival and promote pollinator awareness.
If you are looking for a more sustainable option to help the bees and the environment, and you aren’t partial to a lush green lawn, removing your lawn altogether is a great alternative.
Lawn removal is a new trend that’s even been highlighted by influencers on TikTok. In fact, it is so popular that California has several initiatives that will pay you to remove your lawn for a more drought resistant landscape. Removing grass is either done by hand, or by layering cardboard, mulch, and soil on top of your current lawn to kill the grass and provide a fresh area for your new ground covering. A popular choice for lawn replacement is creeping thyme. It smells nice, it comes in different colors, grows quickly, is non-toxic to your pets, is attractive to bees, and best of all: it’s edible! Creeping thyme can be made into tea and other herbal remedies. There are other options for ground coverage such as early snow glories, and creeping phlox. Be sure to research if a plant is toxic to your children and pets before planting!
While No Mow May might seem like a good idea, and even has research-backed studies that justify it, there is a dark side to the movement that can’t be ignored. Even Bee City USA acknowledges that No Mow May might not be right for everyone, but regardless “the campaign can be a good tool for getting new people involved in pollinator conservation.” Saving the bees has been at the forefront of many people’s minds in recent years, and anything we can do to help our pollinators in a healthy way, both for the bees and for our families is a step in the right direction. Michael Sarnese from Richland Pest and Bee Control vocalizes to, “remove reasons why they [rodents] want to show up. Remove cover, trim lawns, things like that, don’t allow hiding spots, if you will.” So this May, feel free to start your mower engines and plant a garden. Just make sure to plant it at least 20 feet away from your home!
Richland Pest & Bee Control has been serving the state of Connecticut for over 45 years. We offer multiple solutions to help control insects like fleas, spiders, bed bugs, and cockroaches. We can customize treatment plans to suit your needs and your budget. Give us a call at 1-800-308-9126, or contact us online for a free estimate.
Richland Pest & Bee Control is a family-owned pest management company serving Connecticut and Western Massachusetts for over 40 years. Known for their expertise and 5-star customer service, they offer reliable solutions for stinging insects, rodents, and other pests, ensuring homes and businesses stay pest-free.