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Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →No Mow May is a campaign that asks people to pause or reduce mowing for a month so flowers already growing in their lawns can bloom. It can create useful forage where flowering plants are present, but one month without mowing does not guarantee a pollinator boost. The results depend on the plants in the lawn, local seasonal timing and what happens after May.
What is No Mow May?
Plantlife launched No Mow May in Britain, and the idea later spread to North America through Appleton, Wisconsin. The simple premise is to let lawn flowers bloom by mowing less—or not at all—during May. It is a campaign, not a one-size-fits-all lawn-care prescription: May is not the same ecological window in every climate.
Whether the pause provides food for pollinators depends first on what is growing. An all-grass lawn offers little to no pollinator resources, while flowering plants such as dandelions can provide nectar and pollen, according to University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension. Its guidance is specific to Wisconsin, so local climate, plants and lawn conditions matter elsewhere.
Does No Mow May help bees?
The widely repeated 2020 Appleton study reporting higher bee richness and abundance in No Mow May lawns was retracted in 2022. Its reported results should not be treated as established evidence. The Cornell Cooperative Extension handout summarizes concerns about data handling and reporting; the PubMed Central record marks the paper as retracted.
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A separate 2022 pilot study offers more limited evidence about flowers and nectar. At one peri-urban campus in Cirencester, UK, researchers recorded 22 open-flower broadleaf species in no-mow plots, compared with 11 in frequently mown plots. Estimated nectar sugar value was significantly higher in no-mow plots only by mid-to-late May. The authors cautioned that “had the no-mow approach been implemented only for the duration of May, there would have been limited benefit.” This single-site study does not establish population-level pollinator gains across other lawns or regions. See the study in Ecological Solutions and Evidence.
Should you stop mowing your lawn in May?
It may make sense if flowering plants are present and local conditions make May an appropriate time to let them bloom. If your lawn is mostly grass, simply leaving it uncut may not create much forage. Higher, less frequent mowing can allow more flowers than close, frequent cutting, but the best schedule depends on the lawn and season.
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Consider No Mow May as one possible part of a longer-term habitat approach rather than a guaranteed monthly fix. Wisconsin Extension recommends flowering plants, including low-growing options for bee lawns, and flowering resources across the growing season. It also advises reducing or eliminating unnecessary pesticide use and delaying spring cleanup or tilling of potential nesting places until late spring. Native plants can be among the strongest food resources, though suitable choices vary by region.
Plantlife recommends avoiding herbicides and fertilizers, giving plants time to set seed before mowing and removing clippings after cutting to avoid nutrient build-up. These are campaign recommendations; consider local lawn needs and rules before applying them. In Plantlife’s 2024 poll of 2,006 UK adults with lawns they could manage, 17% said neatness mattered more than supporting garden wildlife. That is an attitude finding, not evidence of ecological outcomes. Plantlife also reports that approximately 97% of wildflower meadows have been eradicated in less than a century in England; that figure is specific to England, not a global estimate.
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How to manage the lawn after No Mow May
If the grass has grown tall, do not try to restore a short lawn in one cut. Wisconsin Extension warns that removing more than one-third of grass height at once can stress the turf and the mower. Resume gradually, adjusting to the lawn’s actual condition rather than following a fixed date.
- Check grass height and mower condition before cutting.
- Set the mower high enough that the first pass removes no more than one-third of the grass height.
- Lower the cutting height gradually over subsequent mowing sessions only if the lawn needs it.
- Where flowers are setting seed, allow them time to do so before mowing, and remove clippings if needed to avoid nutrient build-up.
Before changing your routine, check local ordinances and seasonal conditions. The cited guidance does not establish one mowing schedule suitable for every climate or property.
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How to make a flowering lawn more useful
A flowering lawn is one possible element of a broader habitat plan. You can allow existing lawn flowers to bloom, reduce mowing frequency, or establish a small flowering patch or bee lawn with plants suited to your region. If you deliberately seed an area, choose a region-appropriate native wildflower seed mix only after checking that its species are suitable and not invasive where you live; buying seed is not necessary to take part in No Mow May.
Variety and continuity matter more than a single month on the calendar. Plantlife’s conservation director Nicola Hutchinson describes how different lawn conditions can support different wildlife: “Clover on a short flowering lawn provides a lifeline for bumblebees, while longer grasses provide an essential resource for butterflies and moths such as the Small Skipper.” Local plants and seasonal timing should guide how you manage the space.
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Where the May timing came from—and when to adapt it
The name reflects the campaign’s British origins, not a universal flowering calendar. Plant flowering and pollinator activity follow local climate and seasonal timing, so a May pause may line up differently with blooms in another region. Look at what is flowering and when in your area, and choose a mowing pattern that maintains useful habitat beyond a single month where practical.
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