No Mow May

Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners are choosing to adopt No Mow May all year long.

 NASHVILLE, Tenn. — No Mow May invites homeowners to put away their lawn mowers each spring, allowing flowers and grasses to flourish naturally. This practice supports pollinators and improves water retention. If your neighbor’s yard often resembles a wildflower meadow, it might be a deliberate choice rather than neglect.

The movement has expanded to “Let It Bloom June” and the fall version: “Leave the leaves.” Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes.

The No Mow movement, popularized by groups like England’s Plantlife, challenges traditional American lawns—often seen as wasteful monocultures requiring excessive pesticides, fertilizers, and water. Outdoor watering and spraying use over 30% of U.S. household water, more in dry areas, per the EPA. Critics argue that brief No Mow efforts may encourage invasive plants without significantly benefiting pollinators.

A guide by Aaron Steil, a consumer horticulture extension specialist at Iowa State University, highlights the pros, cons, and limits of No Mow practices. He suggests mowing every two weeks and replacing turf with year-round pollinator-friendly plants to gain benefits without risking fines or neighbor complaints. The No Mow initiative encourages greater awareness of yard biodiversity, with many local nature groups offering advice on selecting noninvasive plants suited to regional climates and rainfall.

Source: Greeley Tribune