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Around this time of year, you may hear about a trending initiative called “No Mow May,” which is thought to provide food and biodiversity for bees and other pollinators by letting our lawns and weeds grow long for the month of May. However, the reality is that an overgrown lawn may not help pollinators as much as we might hope–and you might just be giving yourself some extra work when June rolls around!
Bees get their nutrition from pollen and nectar, which turfgrass cannot provide in adequate quantities, no matter how long the grass grows. In fact,
bees often avoid grass pollen
because of its low nutritional value. And common weeds, like dandelions,
lack the necessary amino acids
that would provide a nutritious food source for native bees.
Unfortunately, this means that a month of grass and weed growth for the duration of “No Mow May” won’t really help our native pollinators thrive. It will, however, have some unintended consequences on the health of your lawn.
The Risks of an Overgrown Lawn
There’s a science to finding the
perfect lawn height
. If it’s cut too short, your lawn won’t have a chance to develop a deep, strong root system for healthy growth. If it’s
left to grow too long, like for the entire month of May, the grass can become too heavy to hold itself upright. As it droops, it will harbor extra moisture (a breeding ground for fungus and disease) and it can even smother the surrounding grass. Then, when it’s finally time to mow again, the long period without proper maintenance can cause the lawn to go into shock. Shock weakens your lawn and root system, making it susceptible to
lawn disease and weed/insect infestations.
Whereas short grass clippings act as a
beneficial natural fertilizer
, the extra long grass clippings will have to be removed by hand. After a month of growth, the extra long clippings will be thick and matted together, smothering the freshly cut grass beneath it, meaning you’ll have to start your summer off with a day of bagging and removing debris from your lawn.
TurfBot robotic lawn mowers
take the guesswork (and the
work
-work) out of finding the perfect height for your lawn. We take into consideration your region, grass type, and the time of year. Then your autonomous mower maintains your lawn meticulously, day in and day out, to ensure your lawn is always freshly cut at the perfect height. That means the only thing on your lawn maintenance to-do list this summer is to relax!
TurfBot Robotic Mowers Make It Simple
Want to learn
how it works
? Find a TurfBot
location near you
and request a
free quote
today!