Is No Mow May Sound Science, Or Just Blowing Sunshine Up A Bee’s Behind? [Block Talk]

ACROSS AMERICA — Not everyone’s lawn mower is roaring during this first week of May as a growing number of communities suspend weed ordinances to give bees and other pollinators a fighting chance.

No Mow May is relatively new, so we asked readers what they think about it for Block Talk, Patch’s regular neighborhood etiquette column.

Here’s the gist of No Mow May: By letting dandelions, clover, blue violets and hundreds of other flowering weeds flourish in May, bees and other pollinators have plenty of the nectar and pollen they need to thrive. It’s one practice — part of an overall landscaping and gardening plan, its backers say — to help imperiled native bees and other pollinators.

There’s some science behind leaving the lawn alone in May. Research by Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin, where the No Mow May movement started in 2020, found five times the number of bees and three times the number of bee species in lawns that weren’t mowed compared with city parks that were mowed.

Heck, asks T., a Joliet (Illinois) Patch reader, why mow at all?

“I think lawns are wasted space in general, and we should be letting the natural meadow grasses grow — always,” T. said.

Another reader doesn’t care “You don't pay for the land or property taxes,” the person said. “Mind your own business.”

Mosquitoes And Mice, Though

Some people think the whole thing amounts to blowing sunshine up a bee’s behind.

“There’s nothing wrong with mowing your lawn during May,” Plainfield (Illinois) Patch reader Jimmy said.

“Dandelions are typically the first source that early pollinators go for and aren't typically harmed by mowing your lawn once a week,” he said. “They are very resilient and will grow back within a day. Not mowing for an entire month invites a lot of other pests to reside in your overgrown lawn such as mosquitos and mice.”

Bob, a Milwaukee Patch reader and frequent commenter on stories on Across America Patch, sees something else.

“The best part of ‘No Mow May’ is that it provides lefties with another addition to their ever-growing collection of virtue-signaling yard signs. It also gives them an extra month of not having to pull them all up and put them all back when mowing the weed patch.”

He dropped a link to The Impatient Gardener, a blog written by a woman in southeastern Wisconsin, where No Mo May is a huge thing. She is unconvinced that it’s going to do much of anything beyond getting others worked up.

“Where I think No Mow May will go wrong is the repercussions of all those flowering weeds, which will, of course, proliferate a neighborhood causing a carpet of dandelions that might be beautiful to some and an eyesore to others,” The Impatient Gardener reasoned in a recent blog. “Neighborly relations may not be up for that kind of stress these days.”

‘Cover For Lazy People’

Al, a Framingham (Massachusetts) Patch reader, said No Mow May is a “dumb idea.”

“Historically, fertilizers have been far more toxic to bees and other wildlife, yet they survived,” Al said. “This is another cover for lazy people to continue ignoring their ‘lawn.’ ”

Bloomfield (New Jersey) Patch reader J. Andrew agrees there are more effective ways to help build up bee populations.

“Bees like flowers a whole lot more than grass,” he said “If you love bees, get a garden going.”

Barbara, a Wakefield (Massachusetts) Patch reader, thinks No Mow May is a good way to get out the message that bees and other pollinators are in trouble.

“It’s an alternative that helps,” said Barbara, a member of the Wakefield Rotary Club, which supports No Mow May and is offering free signs that help neighbors understand why the lawn next door is shaggy.

“People can still mow some of their yard,” Barbara said.

But Is It Enough?

Holding off on mowing during May isn’t enough on its own to bring back pollinator populations, Barbara pointed out.

“It’s also about the chemicals and overuse of mulch,” she said. And as for the power of No Mo May to irritate the lawn-of-the-month club, it’s “all the loud leaf blowing and mowers that is a drag,” she said, adding, “Those should be banned.”

Aunt Bee, a Greendale (Wisconsin) Patch reader, thinks the No Mow May movement is “well-intentioned and probably does some good.”

Still, “I bowed to pressure in my older neighborhood and mowed a couple of days ago,” Aunt Bee said. “I compensate by planting things bees and pollinators like — trying to create a sanctuary for them, you know? Everybody who can should do their part. And bonus — hummingbirds and butterflies like it, too.”

Aunt Bee said her neighbors are already miffed over her refusal to use chemicals to control creeping charlie and other invasive weeds.

“I saw and snip,” Aunt Bee said, “but it’s a losing battle.”

Aunt Bee went on: “My city is down with it. People grumble on Facebook, but I guess it takes the pressure off Bud Light.”

Well, OK, there’s that.

About No Mow May

No Mow May was first popularized by the conservation group Plantlife in Great Britain and adopted by Bee City USA. Residents of Appleton, Wisconsin, convinced city leaders to suspend weed ordinances during May in 2020. More Wisconsin communities adopted No Mow May in 2021, and in subsequent years the movement has spread nationwide.

About Block Talk

Block Talk is a regular Patch feature offering real-world advice from readers on how to resolve everyday neighborhood problems. If you have a neighborhood etiquette question or problem you'd like for us to consider, email beth.dalbey@patch.com, with Block Talk as the subject line.

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