You’ve likely seen posts here and there informing of the benefits of letting your grass grow through the month of May. This environmental movement known as No Mow May which launched in the United Kingdom in 2019 is gaining momentum in towns and cities across Canada and the United States.

As the demand for protecting bees and other pollinators has grown, so has the number of people participating in this spring movement by keeping their mowers in the shed for one more month. And, some municipalities have jumped on the bandwagon by temporarily waiving rules prohibiting long grass in residential yards.

In recent times, our bee and butterfly populations, including the lesser-known pollinators like moths, beetles and flies, have been in steep decline due to climate change, habitat loss and the widespread use of pesticides. But residents can do their part to improve the situation by joining in the No Mow May movement.

The Nature Conservancy of Canada suggests that leaving your lawn alone in May will benefit nature.

“If you imagine dozens and dozens of backyards doing things to improve habitat for native pollinators and migratory birds, this can have a big impact on nature and the quality of our urban ecosystems,” said Dan Kraus, NCC’s senior conservation biologist.

“By letting flowers bloom on your lawn, including dandelions, you can provide an important source of nectar and pollen for wild bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.”

While the sight of green yards dotted with bright yellow dandelions and other spring wildflowers is not everyone’s cup of tea, a growing number of residential homeowners see these weedy spaces as an opportunity to do their part to give pollinators a chance for a strong start.

If you’re still not convinced that letting the lawn go wild makes sense, remember that many of the fruits we buy or that we grow in our own gardens, including strawberries, apples and melons, depend on pollination by wild insects.

So, if you happen to notice that the lawn is looking a little weedy this May, celebrate it!

Pull out the lawn chairs, pour yourself a lemonade, put your feet up, and give yourself a temporary break from the yard work.  You’ll be helping out our pollinators.

Bee on dandelion image from Pixabay
Dandelion puffballs image by Johnson Chou on Unsplash