While No Move May is an annual trend we’re all encouraged to do every year, is it always the best idea? Although the benefits to flora and fauna are well documented, is it the same concept as the well-known advertisement that tells us ‘Dogs aren’t just for Christmas?’
Could no mow actually be dangerous to wildlife if we start over with fresh cuts? lawn Early June? And are we really missing the message about No Move May?
We share 5 ways you can embrace the No Move Man and explain why thinking about extending it before May might be a better approach.
What is No Move May?
The idea behind the No Mow May movement is focused on telling the millions of homeowners in the UK with gardens to consider leaving them. Lawnmower In May, take a wild approach to gardening.
However, what is often missed, is the fact plant lifeThe conservation charity, which launched the movement in 2019, is encouraging gardeners to increase the approach throughout the summer as well. It’s almost like less is more, so even if you only leave a small patch to free up during the summer, this will be more beneficial than anything.
As the website clearly states: “No Mow May is the perfect starting point for summer. You don’t have to leave the whole thing long, in fact, leaving a mix of grass lengths in your lawn with No Mow May and beyond means you’re giving nature the boost it deserves. No Mow fenugreek, keep the No Mow movement going, let it bloom and administer your law of nature all year long.”
That’s something that James Evans, gardening and wildlife expert Green feather Also supports.
“No Move May is a brilliant initiative, and a fantastic way to get people to think differently when it comes to theirs. Garden design. However, it is important that people see the movement as a starting point rather than a one-month solution,” he agrees.
“The real way to have a positive impact on wildlife comes from creating year-round habits, not a sudden change in May and a complete cut in June – which can actually disrupt nesting insects, small mammals and overwintering species.”
James Evans is a gardening specialist at Green Feathers, the UK’s leading supplier of bird boxes and wildlife cameras, and is passionate about all things sustainability and the environment.
5 Ways to Make the No Move Man a Long-Term Approach
1. For larger gardens, create mini meadows
If space is not a problem, then perfectly designed and nourished An eco-friendly garden Obviously the philosophy behind not sowing in May is the best way to ensure it lasts all year.
“If you have the space available, leave a section of your lawn to grow long and wild all year,” suggests James Evans on how you can go the extra mile by introducing native wildflowers. “This can make a huge difference by providing nectar for pollinators and shelter for small organisms and insects throughout the year,” he explains.
Seedball
Seedball Wildflower Seed Bomb
Scatter this set of 5 seedballs across the area of land you’ve designated for a meadow and watch the flora and fauna flourish.
2. If space is limited, consider ‘wild corners’
If Small garden ideas If it’s your only outlet, that doesn’t mean you can’t also take a nature-inspired approach, says James, because even small patches of lawn can provide a home for wildlife.
“Even if you’re a little limited on space, you can create a tucked away patch and leave it to overgrow slightly with native grasses and plants or nettles,” he suggests. “These areas become important refuges for insects such as beetles and butterflies, especially when temperatures begin to drop in the fall.”
It can also be the starting point for transforming your outdoor space into a charming one Cottage garden idea.
3. Create wild planters and pots
When your outdoor space consists only of hard landscaping, eg courtyard or decoration, You can still find ways to make your garden a haven for wildlife.
“If you have a patio GardenersOr your garden is pot-heavy, you can try planting pollinator-friendly plants like lavender, thyme and marigolds to provide a rich source of nectar during the summer months,” suggests James.
Create wildlife friendly planters or borders
Gardening Express
Munstead English lavender
This little lavender will definitely bring bees and insects to your borders or planters
Amazon
Outsunny galvanized raised bed for garden
Fill this raised planter with plants and herbs that are known to attract pollinators
Gardening Express
African Marigold – Tagetes erecta ‘Sierra Orange’
This vibrant orange marigold blooms in borders or pots
4. Don’t rush to clean up fallen seed heads and leaves
Although we’re not advocating a completely unkempt garden, removing some natural debris can reduce the opportunities available to small insects in your garden, warns James Evans.
“It can be hard, but resist the urge to organize everything,” he says. “Seed heads can be an important food source in fall and winter, while leaf litter provides much-needed shelter for insects and invertebrates.”
5. Cut smarter, not harder
From the moment you create First cut of the yearBy the point where it is Time to stop mowing your lawnChanging your perspective on what your lawn should look like can be an easy way to make it last longer.
“Instead of mowing your entire lawn as soon as the calendar turns to June, try a rotational mowing approach, where you leave different sections for longer periods of time at different times so that wildlife always has somewhere to retreat,” suggests James.
Experts at the British Garden Center also suggest leaving a grass strip untouched along a fence or wall. While it may only be a thin margin, it is useful for wildlife because it is sheltered and undisturbed. HedgehogsGround beetles and solitary bees all use it to make your harvest easier and their lives better.
How to Cope with the First Lawn Cut in June
If, however, you want to get the mower back in June, make sure you’re not harming any wildlife before you start.
“If you decide to participate in No Mow May, the key before revving your engine in June is to go slow and do a little checking. Long and messy grass can quickly become home to beetles, ground-nesting insects and frogs – so try to clean up the critters before you mow,” says James Evans.
Going back to a straight short cut in June can stress the lawn and disturb anything that lives in it, agree experts at British Garden Centres, who suggest that homeowners reduce the mower height gradually over a few cuts, rather than eliminating it altogether.
Or, you can just start with that garden path Mow in between, as this will give kids and dogs somewhere to run without flattening the lawn like the rest of the lawn.
But if a full cut is your preferred option, James suggests the following approach.
“Go in stages – starting at one edge of your garden and moving over a series of different days will give wildlife time to make the move, as opposed to a complete cut in one day,” he advises. “And, take the time to check for any visible insect or small mammal activity before you start each new section.”
For more ways to make your garden more wildlife-friendly, check out Ways to attract birds to your gardenAnd make sure that once winter arrives, you understand the rules and regulations Disturbed protected wildlife species in your garden.
