Having a pristine, freshly cut lawn certainly has an aesthetic appeal, but is frequently mowing really the healthiest thing to be doing? Whether it’s coming from binging more than enough home and garden shows or Karen the self-anointed HOA watchdog, you may be feeling a pressure to keep your lawn in a constant immaculate appearance. However, the world was doing just fine before we invented the illusion of suburban perfection. Now, we’re not saying to never mow your lawn, but we are saying it can help the earth just a scooch if you let your yard to have sometime to grow out. And we’re not the only ones.
In 2019, the UK organization Plantlife started an initiative called: “No Mow May” as part of a conservation study to support struggling pollinators. In just a few short years, it’s caught one with those of us here across the pond. Here’s a few benefits for your yard and our world by participating in this initative.
Live and Let Pollinators Live
When some of us see an insect, we may be in possession of an instinct to shoo them away. Perhaps even get some sort of spray out from underneath the kitchen sink that may unalive them. Now, yes, some insects are pests, but there are some such as bees and butterflies that are crucial the flourishing of our ecosystem. Your lawn and home garden are not exempt, even if you’re not personally a fan of the little creatures.
Unfortunately, many pollinating insects face increasing challenges aside from pesticide usages. Habit loss and climate change are increasingly putting pollinators lives in danger. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations reports additional issues such as, intensive farming practices, mono-cropping, excessive use of agricultural chemicals being contributors to increasing mortality rates among bees worldwide.
By participating in No Mow May, you can provide a temporary refuge for these important creatures and help support their populations.
Lessen Your Carbon Footprint
Lawn mowing requires gasoline or electricity, both being contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. By foregoing a few weeks of mowing, you’re helping reduce your carbon footprint. In the United States, the average carbon footprint per person is 16 tons, which is one of the highest in the world. For perspective, the optimal carbon footprint is around 6,000 – 16,000 pounds, which at the high end is only half the national average. We’ve got quite a ways to get those numbers down. Decreasing how often you mow your lawn can be your first step to doing just that.
Want more ideas for reducing your household’s carbon footprint? Check out our blog about going green at home.
Don't Recoil At This Idea for Healthy Soil
When you mow your lawn , you essentially remove the top layer of grass and other vegetation, which can lead to soil compaction. Soil compaction occurs when the soil becomes too tightly packed, making it difficult for water, air, and nutrients to penetrate. This can result in a lack of oxygen for the roots, which can cause the grass to die. However, by not mowing your lawn for a month, you allow the grass to grow longer, which helps to the soil to loosen up as well as reduce compaction. Water, air, and nutrients are then able to penetrate more easily, leading to healthier soil and grass.
If you’re one for mowing your lawn frequently, you’re removing the clippings that contain valuable nutrients that the grass needs to grow. These nutrients are imperatively essential for the health and growth of your grass. By not mowing your lawn, all the clippings remain on the lawn, where they can break down and release these nutrients back into the soil. This can help to promote healthier, more vibrant grass won’t be as susceptible to disease and pests.
An Hour Saved, is an Hour Earned
The personal benefit of No Mow May is that it will save you time and money. After all, your probably know that mowing the lawn can easily become a time-consuming task, and pretty expensive if you hire out a service to maintain it for you. Think of what you can do with all the hours and money saved. Not to mention that by reducing your mowing down to nil, you can also be saving money on equipment maintenance and repair. Frequent mowing will hasten the wear and tear on your lawnmower. So, reduce the amount of wear and tear on your equipment, prolong its lifespan, and save money by participating in No Mow May this year.
