Spring is here, and with it comes a flurry of growth and activity in our gardens. Our native bees who are responsible for a large portion of pollination duties are emerging and looking for flowers to forage. It’s only early March, and we haven’t reached peak blooming season in our landscapes. But, here is something you can do to help the bees find food; wait three weeks to mow or don’t mow at all.
The concept of “No Mow” May was started in the U.S. by the Bee City affiliate town of Appleton, Wisconsin, in 2020
The city suspended their weed ordinances for the month of May and over 400 residents participated that first year. Here in Florida, “No Mow” May has been adapted to “No Mow” March or “Slow Mow” Spring to account for the timing of the native bee emergence in the spring this far south.
“No Mow” March or “Slow Mow” Spring will work best in landscapes that utilize the freedom lawn approach
A freedom lawn allows whatever forbs and grasses (some people may say weeds) to grow and then mow short to keep them the same height as the turfgrass. Starting slow to mow in the spring gives forb lawns time to put on blooms and provide pollen and nectar for our busy foraging friends. These lawns are free from irrigation, fertilizers, insecticides, fungicides, and herbicides. Freedom lawns free up time and money spent on these chemicals and their applications as well.
Research has shown that less frequent mowing really does help
A study in Massachusetts found that lawns mowed every three weeks had over twice as many blooming forbs and a higher diversity of bee species. A whopping 111 different bee species were documented during the study. A meta-analysis of many different studies showed an increase in numbers and species of butterflies, bees, grasshoppers, crickets, and true bugs in less frequently mowed lawns. You might not care for the crickets and grasshoppers, but they provide food for baby birds who hatch in spring as well. In contrast, more manicured lawns had fewer bees and butterflies but more pest insects such as centipedes, millipedes, spiders, ticks, and mites.
You may be thinking, “I like bees, butterflies, and baby birds, but what will the neighbors think?”
Well, you can download “Low Mow” Spring yard signs from Bee City USA’s website at https://beecityusa.org/nomow-may/. Use it as an opportunity to tell them about what you are doing and why. As long as you keep the grass under 15” in height you will stay in the good graces of City Code Enforcement, too.
Perhaps you live in an HOA that dictates a weed-free St. Augustinegrass lawn
If this is the case, can you do a mullet landscape? It’s business in the front but a party in the back…yard. Stop treating the backyard with chemicals and let the forbs grow. Even the dandelions that will come up quickly are good for the bees. For more information on pollinator plants go to: https://gardeningsolutions.ifas.ufl.edu/design/gardening-with-wildlife/bee-plants.html
Article written by Tonya Ashworth, Environmental Horticulture Agent April 2024
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