No Mow May is On

No Mow May is a movement within communities that empowers homeowners to contribute directly to native ecosystems. During the month of May, allowing your grass to grow allows for the growth of flowers as well. These flowers serve as some of the first food for pollinators including the 460+ bee species, and 163 butterfly/skipper species in Michigan.

You may think, “How can my small yard make a difference?” Consider this, grass is the largest crop in the United States. Yes, there is even more grass than corn. These yards combined account for a large amount of the possible habitat for flowers.

No Mow May also allows us all to recognize that even in urban areas, we are still a part of a larger ecosystem. Seeing many homes in a neighborhood participating can help spread the message and encourage others to join the movement too. With all of the different flowers in bloom, you and your neighbors may find the beauty in a wild yard. Perhaps you will even take steps towards rewilding your yard. 

Rewilding is the act of removing nonnative grass and replacing it with native plants. By doing this, you can support both the pollinators and your local watershed. The deep and complex root systems of native plants slow the runoff of stormwater and allow water to seep deep into the soil. Some native plant roots can grow up to 16 feet deep! In comparison, grass roots only go 3 to 6 inches deep.

No Mow May is a great first step you can take to make an immediate impact on the ecosystem and your community. After No Mow May, there are small changes you can adopt to continue doing your part. These include:

• Reducing the frequency of mowing to once every two to three weeks instead of weekly lets flowers grow and reduces carbon emissions.

• Sweeping grass clippings and other debris back into the grass helps keep your yard waste out of the watershed.

• Reducing the amount of fertilizer you use or switching to eco-friendly fertilizers helps keep fertilizer out our storm drains and into rivers.

• Installing green stormwater infrastructures like rain barrels and rain gardens to help improve runoff. 

Your local watershed council, the Clinton River Watershed, is here to help you on your journey and happy to answer any further questions!