No Mow May
By ange2
19 comments
Just a reminder that we are entering the period of ‘No Mow May’.
We shall try it this year and it will be an opportunity to observe which wildflowers emerge on our grass and which insects enjoy them.
Why not release yourself from the tyranny of lawn mowing for at least a little while? Or leave just a smaller patch to give the insects a free meal? We could compare notes about what plants pop up and which insects use them.
Who knows, authorised laziness might catch on!
- 3 May, 2023
- 5 likes
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Comments
My OH and I have some quite lively disagreements about the garden, too, Sbg. I have spent years trying to persuade him to agree to a pond. Negative response with no real reason given. Then this spring we bought a little pre-formed pond. Maybe he was tired of my nagging ;-) It still has to go in the garden, though. It may just be a cunning delaying tactic!
I think from what I've read and seen of your garden you already take wildlife well into consideration already. 'N.M.M.' will be good if it encourages more people to think a little more about how to share our space with the wildlife of the country. I'm thrilled to see the hedgehogs returning to ours. This was helped by raising the bottom of a newly installed wooden gate last year. Such a little thing but so helpful.
3 May, 2023
I’m already with you Ange. OH didn’t like my idea, but I persuaded him a month or so ago to leave a small patch of grass unmown. It is separate from the main lawn. I tried to scarify it but not really strongly enough, and planted origanum grown from seed and Erigeron. It looks a dreadful mess! But given some warmth, maybe we’ll see some flowers. Btw I scattered some yellow rattle seed …
3 May, 2023
Good to hear, Sheila. I've enjoyed the daisies and dandelions so far but expect it to be full of clover soon. After the moles blasted part of it the 'lawn' can't look much worse... I hope the yellow rattle works. Keep us posted.
3 May, 2023
We are going to stop mowing the grass alongside a border and path, it's only about two mower widths, also the back part of the lawn for May. Already there are Dandelions, but I'm already think when they become 'clocks' of seed I'm going to have to remove them!
3 May, 2023
I take your point, Shirley.
4 May, 2023
Ange, the grass was cut a week ago and OH noticed some little Forget-me-nots popping through, that's a first! Today I have taken a photo of that area, it will not be mown until June so I shall take a weekly photo just to see what appears. Btw, one Dandelion clock was carefully removed and binned ... :o)
4 May, 2023
I've been watching the bee flies on the cowslips this morning when I should have been weeding the borders, Shirley. Amazing what you see if you take time to look!
4 May, 2023
Ange, I sat in the sun house for an hour after lunch and simply enjoyed the sounds of the birds, saw a Red Admiral butterfly land on a Choisya and a large Bumblebee on a Honeysuckle. Just lovely ... :o)
5 May, 2023
Exactly, Shirley. Very therapeutic..
5 May, 2023
Sorry but I’ll continue to mow There are plenty of other plants in my garden to cater for all the wildlife
6 May, 2023
I've looked at your photos, Helen, you have a beautiful garden.
7 May, 2023
I have no grass , but have long ornamental grasses at the back
13 May, 2023
Well, my OH keeps pointing out the 'mess' to me, Paul, but I am resisting the temptation to call out the lawnmower! I hope your grasses aren't drowned...
13 May, 2023
We could not bear to look at the long grass any longer ... OH mowed it this morning! Not sure if letting it grow was beneficial to any insects at all.
25 May, 2023
No, Shirley, I can't say I've seen much either! A great dearth of bees and butterflies in all of the garden here.
25 May, 2023
Ange, we sat in the sun house for an hour after lunch and saw more birds pecking at the mown grass than we have ever seen before!
25 May, 2023
You probably upset the ants!
26 May, 2023
More than likely, as there are so many ants around this year ... :o(
27 May, 2023
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Not a chance with my hubby. He has agreed to lift the blades a bit. Considering Victoria is a wildlife conservationist this is one area we can't get him to agree on. His argument being I have lots of native plants in the borders and he is ok with low growing flowers in the grass, but not long grass. I do have native orchids but they are now in pots.
Lets hope the Govt goes ahead with cutting council tax for those properties with a good proportion of grass. We would certainly qualify.
3 May, 2023