Experts Say ‘No’ To Mowing In May In Michigan

Have you noticed some of your neighbor's yards in West Michigan looking a bit unkempt as we move through the month of May? Well, they may be participating in 'No Mow May' an online effort to create habitats for bees and other pollinators.

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What Is No Mow May?

No Mow May is a movement to keep homeowners from mowing their lawns until the month of June to allow more flowering plants to bloom. According to BeeCityUSA.org there is also the added benefit of the habitat that longer grass provides:

Mowing your lawn less allows flowering plants to bloom, providing bees and other pollinators with the nectar and pollen that they rely on to feed themselves as well as their offspring...Longer grass can also provide other benefits to invertebrates including shelter. The more varied structure created by longer grass will support more than just bees.

 

Does Michigan Participate In No Mow May?

While the state as a whole doesn't have a coordinated campaign to participate in No Mow May, some areas are encouraging residents to participate.

The city of Ann Arbor actually passed a resolution encouraging its residents to participate in the program back in April.

Also Royal Oak in Metro Detroit has also decided to suspend code enforcement for their citizens to participate in No Mow May and even has signs available for use from city hall.

Do West Michigan Communities Participate in No Mow May?

At this point, no West Michigan communities have officially made declarations in support of No Mow May, but you may notice signs like these popping up in yards across the area.

But as the campaign begins to grow, along with lawns across Michigan and the United States, you might see more towns and cities participating as studies show that longer lawns are indeed, great for the bees!