It's OK to mow in May – the most effective option to help pollinators is so as to add native plants

It's a straightforward idea: Stop mowing your lawn in May in order that flowers within the lawn, like dandelions and clovers, can grow and support bees and other pollinators.

“No Mow May” was launched in 2019 by Plantlife, a conservation organization based within the UK, in response to a well-documented lack of grassland and an alarming decline in native plants and animals there. Since then it has been picked up by many Gardeners and Conservationists in North America.

Studies have shown that many Flowers growing on unmown British lawns Do Support British pollinators. But North America has very diverse ecological communities composed of unique wildlife.

If you're enthusiastic about supporting pollinators, it's vital to think about the ecological context of your garden—and #NoMowMay is probably not an efficient strategy. As Entomology researcher WHO Run pollinator programsWe see higher opportunities for people in North America to assist pollinators thrive of their gardens.

What grows in North American lawns?

Most lawn flowers present in North America should not native to this continent but were brought here from Europe and Asia. Many, reminiscent of Bull thistleare harmful weeds that may crowd out native plants contribute to problems reminiscent of soil erosion. Others, reminiscent of Gundermanare aggressive, invasive weeds in natural areas.

Allowing these weeds to grow can increase their numbers within the landscape and possibly even reduce native biodiversity by creating near-monocultures. Failure to mow your lawn and allowing these plants to spread can result in weed problems that residents of neighboring properties will likely have to combat with herbicides.

Pollinators will be found on lawn flowers, but appearances will be deceiving.

Some non-native lawn plants are very attractive to pollinators. Thistle, crown vetch and to a lesser extent dandelion and white clover are continuously visited by bees. This attractiveness helps invasive plants pollinate, form seeds and spread effectively.

But the pollinators you see on these non-native plants are already probably the most common on the landscape. Adding these plants to a landscape doesn’t improve pollinator communities in North America or support biodiversity.

The dominance of some pollinator species on these plants may indicate that human influence has reduced the variety of species on this ecosystem. In typical human-modified landscapes, there are a small variety of cosmopolitan weeds—species that occur in a big selection of habitats in lots of parts of the world—and a handful of pollinator species.

For example, a 2014 study that examined urban and suburban lawns in Kentucky found that 90% of the spring insects that visited dandelion flowers there have been of a single bee species non-native honey bee; a species of butterfly that joint brand skipper; and a couple of Hoverfly species. Honey bees represented almost 50% of the pollinators visiting white clover in spring, followed by hoverflies and a few bumblebee species.

The surrounding landscapes are also vital

Few home gardens are large enough to support pollinator populations. A dandelion meadow in a steel-and-concrete-dominated neighborhood would appear like a haven for pollinators just because there's nothing else nearby for bees to feed on. But only a few bees would visit the dandelions, and they might be bee species that were widespread throughout the landscape, just as a lot of the birds in the realm were pigeons or house sparrows.

In a nature reserve, the identical dandelion meadow would attract a more diverse pollinator community. But it could still be dominated by the common generalist species that visit many forms of flowers and should not very picky. As more specialized pollinators emerge in backyards, they flock over from adjoining landscapes which are devoid of lawn plants.

A 2016 study found this pattern on suburban lawns in Springfield, Massachusetts. Researchers collected 5,331 bees from 111 species flying over small suburban properties over a two-year period. Just 13 species accounted for 4,442 individual bees that they collected, while 81 species were each represented by 10 or fewer individual bees.

Plant quite a lot of native plants

Instead of taking a break from mowing and letting non-native plants dominate the spring landscape, we recommend planting a various choice of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous flowering plants.

Native North American plants and pollinators have co-evolved over time. The plants have characteristics that allow for specific interactions, the suitable flowering times, and the suitable form of nectar and pollen for certain native insects.

Researchers at Penn State Center for Pollinator Research, where we each work, have been studying the pollen that wild bees and managed honey bees collect to seek out out which plants provide probably the most dietary resources to bees. They found that trees blooming in April and May – including maple, oak and willow – provided probably the most pollen to bees.

Other plants native to North America which are visited by pollinators, reminiscent of bluebells, columbines and phlox, have evolved to grow in partial shade while the trees above them sprout leaves.

Even more reasons to mow

Leaving grass uncut in May or June can also be problematic since it creates a positive habitat for ticks and wildlife reminiscent of deer and tick-carrying rodents. This may increase the local risk of tick infestation and tick-borne diseases.

Maintaining shorter grass areas creates a drier environment that’s unfavorable to ticks. It also limits wildlife habitat and food sources, causing the tick population to say no.

Finally, weeds growing on unmowed lawns can result in conflict with neighbors. Whether the priority is aesthetics, local property values, or public health, many cities have ordinances that set limits on lawn height and lawn area Fine residents who don't comply.

While we agree that mowed lawns don't provide much food or support for native species, skipping mowing for a short while doesn't do much either. Pollinators need flowering plants throughout the growing season, from early spring to winter.

We recommend transforming your yard right into a pollinator paradise by adding native plants and flower beds over time, and maybe turning your entire lawn right into a garden. For a listing of North American pollinator plants native to your region, see Xerces Society And Pollinator partnership. State Master Gardener groups even have detailed information on developing pollinator gardens to your region, reminiscent of the Pollinator Garden Certification Program Penn State Master Gardener.