There’s more than one good reason to leave your lawnmower in the shed or garage this month.
The Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC) encourages you to wait before mowing your lawn so pollinators can start the year energized.
Usually they celebrate ‘No Mow May’ but given the amount of rain and moisture we’ve had they call it ‘Slow Mow May’ this year.
By waiting a little longer to mow your grass, you are giving bugs and birds the food and resources they need to survive or build nests.
“When you think of dozens of backyards that improve the habitat for native pollinators and migratory birds, it can have a huge impact on the nature and quality of our urban ecosystems,” said Mhairi McFarlane, NCC director of science and administration, Ontario. “By allowing flowers to bloom on your lawn, you can be an important source of nectar and pollen for wild bees, butterflies and other pollinating insects.”
Throughout the spring, the nature conservation authority recommends that you rarely mow, and if you do, with caution.
If you do want to mow, try to pick a warm day as late as possible in spring, says McFarlane. “Mow slowly and, if possible, go around first to scare away animals like moths, toads and rabbits that might be hiding in the grass. These moths that you let fly lay eggs that hatch into caterpillars and become vital food for the many birds that are just beginning to nest.
If you’re not a huge fan of gardening, the agency suggests making some eco-friendly changes to your garden.
Consider replacing some of the grass in your garden with plants from your area. A good place to start is in grassy, maintenance-intensive areas that often need to be trimmed with a weed chopper.
“In the long run, this will save you time and energy as these areas mature and require much less attention than your lawn,” concludes McFarlane. “For urban nature it is important to downsize your lawn and instead add native plants, because lawn is one of the largest green spaces in our cities and yet offers little wildlife.”
For more tips on attracting pollinators to your property, click here.
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