Wildlife gardening
No Mow May
No Mow May is the best way to start. Just stop cutting the grass for the glorious month of May.
By locking away the lawn mower for a few weeks, it’s not just the grass you will be letting grow. Lawns are made up of a tapestry of plants that nestle in amongst the grass-clover, plantain, and daisies, to name just a few. And they need to flower and set seed to thrive, which in turn allows bees, butterflies, and other insects to feed and shelter.
To encourage and support this biodiversity, try mowing just once a month, instead of weekly.
This allows the short-grass species (such as daisies, white clovers, and bird’s-foot trefoil) to produce new, nutrient-rich flowers, boosting nectar production for hungry bees.
And for the very best results, leave some patches completely unmown throughout the whole summer. You may discover hidden treasures blooming, such as the taller oxeye daisy, red clover, field scabious, and knapweed. It’ll become a wildflower patch and an insect’s haven (they will shelter in the long stems, long after summer has passed).
But don’t worry if you need to cut the lawn to picnic on or kick a football. Just remember to leave some areas rough and relaxed.
Not just this May, but every month…..