No Mow Might is an annual marketing campaign that encourages folks to let their lawns develop wild all through the month of Might. City and suburban gardens can turn into havens for wildlife, wildflowers, and grasses, serving to to feed bees, butterflies, and pollinators all through the summer time.
James Ewens, gardening professional at Inexperienced Feathers level outs, “Habitat loss, pesticides, and local weather change, are all contributing to the endangering of pollinators, so it’s essential that these critters are protected and supplied for, and this could begin in our personal gardens.”
Giving mowing a miss for a month is a brilliant low-maintenance backyard concepthowever with some critical advantages for the atmosphere. However earlier than you dive in, take a look at what the specialists should say to make your No Mow Might successful.
James Ewens
James is a gardening and wildlife professional at Inexperienced Feathers, who provide fowl field and wildlife cameras. James creates an area for studying about wildlife, and offering data on learn how to greatest deal with them – all whereas having fun with their firm by real-time footage.
Prepare for No Mow Might
Earlier than you embrace the advantages of No Mow Might there are some things you are able to do to arrange your backyard. Ewens suggests, “Add some extra wildflowers to the garden to optimise that meals supply and habitat for our wildlife pals.”
However earlier than you do, he has one tip: “One very important factor some gardeners overlook with regards to including flowers or vegetation to their garden – take away your cuttings first.” He provides, “Raking your garden to take away cuttings will stop vitamins from increase that may stifle the expansion of wildflowers.”
Graham Smith MCIHort, gardening professional from LBS Horticultureexplains learn how to get one of the best platform for development: “Wildflowers are inclined to emerge higher from a brief garden, so it is best to proceed to mow your garden as ordinary earlier than Might except you’re hoping for spring wildflowers.”
It is price noting that you just need not use your entire garden for No Mow Might. You may select an space you wish to go away to develop and mow the remaining. When prepared, James Lewis, gardening professional from MyBuilder.com says, “Do a closing brief reduce, rake up clippings, and search for any downside vegetation or invasive species, similar to bindweed. He provides, “Take away what you possibly can, and plant any fascinating vegetation useful to biodiversity, similar to Lavender.”
Strive these to assist with No Mow Might
Mountfield Lawnmower Electress 34 Li Lawnmower
A strong light-weight 550W cordless electrical lawnmower that comes with a charger and two batteries. Features a 35L grass collector and has a 34cm slicing width.
This instrument will assist aerate your garden and clear away moss and garden thatch. It has a high-strength carbon metal head and an extra-long grip for consolation.
This high-quality, fast-growing grass seed has three several types of ryegrass to offer grass that’s robust, vibrant, and has glorious put on tolerance.
Graham Smith MCIHort
Graham Smith MCIHort is the Nationwide Gross sales Supervisor at LBS Horticulture. He has intensive data within the horticultural and gardening industries, and prides himself on utilizing this to assist gardeners of all abilities create their good out of doors house.
Skilled suggestions for No Mow Might
1. Nominate your No Mow Might space
It may not be possible to let your entire backyard develop wild throughout Might (it’d spoil your lengthy backyard concepts), so fastidiously choose areas that may be just right for you. Lewis says, “When you don’t plan to let your entire backyard run wild, select the areas you’re prepared to let go.” He provides, “Select to maintain entry paths mown, or areas of excessive footfall.” Alternatively, “Simply go away a small patch to develop whereas sustaining the remainder of their backyard”
2. Select what to develop
Lewis says, “Grasses and vegetation usually are not equal with regards to biodiversity and attracting pollinators.” He provides, “The truth is, some invasive species might even be dangerous. Take into account plantingforms of Bluebell, Rosemary, or Wallflower, all of that are very engaging to bees and bugs.”
However you would possibly have already got species that work effectively in your backyard, as Smith explains, “Flowering clover and daisies entice pollinators to your backyard, and pollinators are very important for fertilising vegetation in order that they will develop seeds or produce fruit.” He provides, “Different ‘weeds’ similar to dandelions will present an necessary supply of nectar for wildlife and are regarded as a superfood for bees and butterflies, particularly as they flower earlier within the yr.” So be sure to don’t eliminate them.
3. Disturb the garden
Earlier than you deal with your mowing your garden, come June, Lewis suggests you assist out the native wildlife, “After a month of no disturbance, there might be a plethora of wildlife in your grass, similar to frogs or hedgehogs. Earlier than you do any mowing, try to disturb the grass in order that they transfer off.” He provides, “Additionally, be certain that to test earlier than you chop the blades actually brief, to keep away from injuring any wildlife.”
4. Be ready to reseed
Leaving your garden might imply it will get broken if you restore it. If so Lewis says, “Be ready to re-seed the place the brown patches can’t be saved.” He provides, “To do that, scarify your garden (take away all lifeless grass and particles), aerate the world of reseeding, and stage the soil. As soon as that is finished, distribute the seeds evenly over the soil, flippantly cowl them and moisten the soil. Maintain the world effectively watered.”
James Lewis
James Lewis is predicated in Bexley; he runs a profitable landscaping enterprise identified for reworking out of doors areas into stunning, useful extensions of the house. With years of expertise, James leads a talented staff that specialises in designing and constructing gardens that improve each the look and usefulness of a property.
What to do on the finish of No Mow Might
Natasha Wright
Tash is a large animal lover and joined Naturewatch Basis in September 2021 and helps all ongoing campaigns. She certified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017 and has just lately accomplished a level in Environmental Research.
When Might ends, you possibly can soar straight in and mow your garden, or not. Natasha Wright, wildlife vet and marketing campaign co-ordinator at Naturewatch Basis suggests a measured strategy: “When you do select to return to mowing, it’s greatest to start out step by step and ensure to test for indicators of wildlife earlier than mowing.” Take a look at our learn how to reduce lengthy grass information to be sure to don’t injury your grass.
She provides, “If animals are current, delay mowing or gently relocate them. Whenever you do start, it’s greatest to start out from one facet and mow step by step throughout, somewhat than starting within the center, which permits bugs an opportunity to flee.”
When mowing, one tip Wright suggests is to depart backyard edges all through to offer year-round refuge for bugs and small animals.
On a extra sensible stage Nick Ee, Gardening product and coaching supervisor at BLACK+DECKER says, “Use a strimmer (like this Black + Decker Strimmer Grass Trimmer from Amazon) to chop away a number of the grass size earlier than getting into with a lawnmower and ensure to set your mower blades excessive earlier than reducing them over time to keep away from damaging your mower and stunning the garden.”
For continued help of wildlife all through the remainder of the yr, Wright says, “Householders can proceed by making a devoted wildlife nook of their backyard.” She suggests, “Including pure options like logs, shrubs, or perhaps a small pond. Easy additions like vertical planters, hanging baskets, and even planting just a few bushes or hedges can enhance biodiversity.”
If you’d like a mission to assist wildlife, Ee says, “Strive constructing one thing like a bee lodge.” He provides, “This can be a enjoyable and cheap method to help wildlife after No Mow Might with a little bit of DIY.”
When you do construct or purchase a bee lodge (like this Woodside Wood Insect & Bee Home from Amazon), Ee says, “Mount the lodge in a sunny, sheltered, south-facing spot close to bee-friendly vegetation for greatest outcomes.”
Nick Ee
Nick has over 10 years’ expertise working within the dwelling enchancment business. Previous to becoming a member of BLACK+DECKER, he was self-employed operating his personal van of instruments, and thru that has gained a wealth of real-world expertise within the residential building and gardening business.
No Mow Might means you may be doing lots much less mowing, however when June comes round, it’s good to take into consideration garden care. It is also a great time to take a look at the most recent backyard tendenciestogether with some good small backyard design concepts when you have a small house.
