As spring begins to give way to summer, tending to a yard becomes a common chore for homeowners.
But this year, a “No-Mow May” trend is taking hold, encouraging homeowners to leave their mowers in the garage for the entire month of May.
The movement is particularly motivated this year by the high fuel prices at the moment, but there is an abundance of ways to benefit from letting your lawn grow long.
"No-Mow May is really just permission to relax a little and let nature do some of the work. Let the grass grow, give pollinators an early-season food source, and remember that a healthy yard doesn’t need to look like a golf course every single week," says Coulter Lewis, founder and CEO of Sunday Lawn Care in Boulder, CO.
Why participate in No-Mow May
One of the top reasons to let your lawn grow freely is that it allows for a healthier ecosystem right outside your door.
Pollinators like native bees and honeybees rely on early-spring blooms to build up colonies after the cold winter months. The so-called "weeds" most homeowners spray for in the spring—dandelions, clover, creeping Charlie—are a critical food source for pollinators before summer flowers arrive.
“A short, uniform lawn is essentially a food desert for them. Allowing your yard to bloom in May provides ample food and opportunity for pollinators to thrive,” explains Nathan Stockman, president of Stockman Lawnscape in Pittsburgh.
On the environmental side, the benefits of No-Mow May can show up sooner than you might expect.
“A typical gas push mower puts out a meaningful amount of air pollution, including carbon dioxide and other emissions called hydrocarbons. Older two-stroke mowers are even more polluting. Skipping four or five mowing sessions in May cuts total emissions noticeably over time,” Stockman explains.
You also avoid the soil compaction that comes from running a heavy machine over wet spring ground, allowing roots to receive the oxygen they need and reducing the risk of fungus.
The financial side of this movement is where homeowners will likely benefit the most, especially this year.
“With gas prices at an all-time high, a homeowner mowing a quarter-acre lot weekly can use 15 to 20 gallons of fuel over a typical mowing season. Skipping May alone may lead to substantial gas savings. When you factor in wear on the mower, the cost of blade sharpening, and the time you get back, No-Mow May makes a whole lot of sense financially,” says Stockman.
According to Stockman, a homeowner who skips four cuts during May can effectively add a month of life back to their machine over its working years.
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How to transition back to regular lawn maintenance in June
If you skip May mowing, the worst thing you can do is cut the lawn back to 2.5 inches in a single pass once June arrives.
Photosynthesis happens in the grass blade itself, and removing most of it at once shocks the lawn. You'll likely end up with brown patches and a thin lawn for the rest of summer.
“The rule we tell clients is never remove more than a third of the grass height in any single cut. If your lawn sits at 9 inches after No-Mow May, drop it to 6 on the first pass, wait three or four days, mow to 4, then hit your normal height a few days later,” advises Stockman.
If you live in an HOA community, be sure to plan ahead and check your bylaws before May. Fortunately, many HOAs will allow No-Mow May with proper notice and a sign. In the event yours won’t, consider a "Slow-Mow May" instead, where you mow every three weeks at the highest setting.
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