AccuWeather's Ali Reid reports on a movement called "No Mow May" where people involved temporarily hold off on mowing their lawns in an effort to help give bees a chance to pollinate flowers for food.

Medford

Spring has arrived, prompting a seasonal uptick in lawn mowing activities. However, a growing movement known as "No Mow May" encourages people to temporarily pause mowing, aiming to support bees and other pollinators. This initiative, which was initially launched in the UK by Plant Life, proposes that by allowing lawns to grow during early spring, pollinators have better access to essential food sources such as nectar and pollen from early blooming flowers like clover and dandelions.

Since its inception, "No Mow May" has gained traction in the United States, where lawns comprise over 40 million acres. These areas are often heavily maintained, offering little sustenance to wildlife. By skipping lawn mowing for a few weeks or reducing its frequency, homeowners can create a more hospitable environment for pollinators during this critical time.

In addition to delaying lawn mowing, experts suggest other measures to foster wildlife-friendly spaces. Planting native plants, minimizing pesticide use, and preserving natural nesting areas like leaves and soil are simple actions that can significantly benefit pollinators. The movement's flexibility accommodates different climate zones; for instance, in warmer Southern U.S. regions, residents might adopt a "No Mow" period earlier in the year. Regardless of specific timing, communities like College Park, Maryland, and Hillsboro, North Carolina, have successfully embraced this approach.



People hold off on mowing lawns for 'No Mow May'

Spring is here and that means the lawn mowers are revving up across the country, but what if skipping that first mow of the season could help save the bees? Hmm. Bernie would never skip. But a growing movement called No Mow May, No Mow May, No Mow May, encourages homeowners to put the mower aside for a few weeks, not out of laziness, but to give pollinators a much needed head start. Our Allie Reed is live from Medford, New Jersey, to show us and to share how letting your grass grow a little longer can help nature bounce back. Allie, first of all, amazing to see you. Yes, we missed you. We did. Second, we love Medford. Happy to be back. I love Medford too. Also, Bernie, I heard you already mess up, mess it up. Yeah, I did. Try saying that 10 times fast. Okay, it's impossible to say. No, no, thank you. I don't think I can do it, by the way. No Mow May. This is what we're talking about this morning. But this is a great concept for families that are all across the country, one that did not start in the United States. But a lot of people now, right as we head into springtime, they say, we need to cut our lawns, we need to trim them. And across the country, a lot of neighborhoods, when you see that perfectly trimmed lawn, that is a point of pride for many families. But heading into this spring, people are changing it up a little bit. They're saying, okay, we're gonna hold off on mowing for just a few more weeks for this concept of No Mow May. Say that 10 times fast. The idea was created in the UK by a company called Plant Life. Now, the goal was to give pollinators like bees and butterflies a fighting chance during the early spring when they emerge from winter and are desperate for food, but flowers are still scarce. The idea caught on quickly in the US where lawns cover more than 40 million acres. That's more land than any other irrigated crop, but most lawns are just grass, right? They're regularly mowed, fertilized, and treated like pesticides, leaving little behind for wildlife. By simply skipping the mower for a few weeks or mowing every two to three weeks instead, you allow early season blooms like clover, violets, and dandelions to grow. These flowers provide essential nectar and pollen at a critical time of the year for them. And while letting your grass grow is a great start, experts say we can take other easy steps to make our yards even more wildlife-friendly. We can plant native plants that bloom throughout the growing season. We can reduce or eliminate our pesticide use. We can protect natural nesting sites by leaving the leaves and having some bare soil. Even leaving some logs or stems lying around can support many different species of pollinators. And then we can really help by spreading the word. The approach isn't one size fits all. In fact, it'll vary depending on where you live. In the Southern U.S., pollinators emerge earlier, so no-mow February or March might be more effective for you. Now, in colder climates, May is often the perfect time to hold off mowing. Even if you're not ready to stop mowing altogether, shrinking the size of your lawn or planting native shrubs can make a huge difference. So, Bernie, Ari, this is positive news. I'm basically... A little bit of less for the next couple of weeks. By the way, there are so many communities across the country that are already taking part in this. College Park, Maryland, Hillsboro, North Carolina are two perfect examples of communities that have been doing this for years now and has really worked for their neighborhoods. So maybe give it a try yourselves, guys.

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