No Mow May ‘23

Dovefromabove · May 2023

https://www.gardensillustrated.com/feature/lawn-mowing-when-flowers-may/#:~:text=The%20ultimate%20concept%20of%20No%20Mow%20May%20is,patch%20or%20two%20of%20grass%20to%20grow%20long.

For reasons explained elsewhere, our ‘lawn’ probably has a head start this year

Let’s see how our ‘lawns’ develop 😊

bertrand-mabel · May 2023

We haven't cut our lawn yet this year. We have bugle, forget me not, daisy, plantain, clover, primrose, dandelion, ox eye daisy, birds foot trefoil to name a few. Many "disapprove" of our lawn but our whole garden is for us and wildlife. Our orchard has paths cut but most is left to allow the many different grasses to flower as well as the dicots. The red campion this year at the moment is brilliant. Knapweeds developing but not in flower yet. Still no success with yellow rattle. Maybe one day!

B3 · May 2023

So long as they don't have don't weed the flower beds May, it'll be ok

Dovefromabove · May 2023

B3 said:

So long as they don't have don't weed the flower beds May, it'll be ok

We started that last month too … 😂

Palustris · May 2023

Tell the water company (United Utilities) up our lane. They have mown the verge along the lane and removed all the wild flowers that were just beginning. So no Bluebells, no Cowslips, no nettles, no Jack by the Hedgerow, no violets, no anything. And they wonder why there are so few insects and birds around when their habitat has been reomoved for no good reason. A massive act of ecological vandalism

Dovefromabove · May 2023

Can you draw the attention of a local councillor … or. given that elections are coming up, a local Green Party Candidate?

Plantminded · May 2023

A lawn which hasn’t been mown is difficult for blackbirds to detect and devour worms. My resident blackbirds have threatened to stage a protest if the lawnmower takes a holiday in May!

Busy-Lizzie · May 2023

In OH's cottage in Norfolk the not very big garden would look awful if it wasn't mown and there are plenty of wild areas nearby anyway.

In my home in Dordogne I like the main lawn mown. I am lucky that I have a bit on land in France. The farmer cuts my field, approx. 1 1/2 acres, in June. It is thick and lush, lots of wild flowers, and goes down to the river. I want to let the orchard, ex donkey paddock, and some of the grass in the veg area be wild areas but Cédric the French handyman keeps mowing it when I'm not there. He thinks it looks unkempt if not mown.

However, if you don't mow in May then mow in June I wonder what happens to all the insects, larvae and other animals that then make that area their home? Do they get chopped up in June? Maybe it should be "no mow summer".

KT53 · May 2023

With the weather we've had this Spring I'm afraid I just cut the grass when I get a couple of dry days.

Fairygirl · May 2023

That's always been my argument @Busy-Lizzie, as well as what @Plantminded has said.
Why didn't they suggest people leave a strip/border of grass unmown until autumn, or a circle/square in the middle, depending on size and what else is around?
Utterly bonkers IMO - create a place for creatures/plants for a month then destroy it!

That's a fairly normal scenario here @KT53, although the last couple of springs have been drier than normal. Grass has often needed to get cut even if it's wet. Just how it is. We're used to it being like that though

Dovefromabove · May 2023

For the past couple of years, following a no Mow May, we mow a triangular half of the lawn (nearest the house and flower beds) and leave the furthest triangle uncut for the whole summer … that area gets much more sun and the grass there suffers, so there’s more opportunity for the wildflowers. It also gives the chap who thrusts advertising rubbish through our letterbox a diagonal path to follow as he walks across the ‘lawn’ 😖

No Mow May ‘23

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