It’s a nay for the ‘Scoop’s lawn. There’s no doubt it was a noble endeavor to help the bees, but anything related to the world of nature takes time to consider all the ramifications. That’s where the University of Minnesota Extension comes in!
While supporting our bees and other pollinators, we also have to consider the real consequences of leaving our lawns grow for an entire month. In particular, the month of May is the month our lawn grass grows the fastest. The temperatures are perfect for both root and shoot growth. Jon Trappe is a turfgrass educator and he had this to share: In Minnesota, not mowing in May means the lawn is not mown for the first time until June, by which time the grass can get to 12-18 inches high. This creates many practical issues including composting the clippings off-site. I’m fortunate in that I live in a city that offers a yard waste site to residents for free. Those of you who don’t generally have to pay to drop off your yard waste at a commercial site.
The first issue is mowing down 10, 12, 15 inches of lawn growth. That’s a practical issue. Think about what you are doing to the live plants (grass). You are literally scalping them which harms the lawn and stresses it. Turf experts agree you should not mow more than 1/3 of the plant’s tissue at a time. The recommended height for a typical Midwest lawn is about 3 inches or higher. TALLER GRASS MEANS LONGER ROOTS! And that means your lawn has a better chance of withstanding drought. If you mow too short, you allow more weed seeds to be able to germinate while stressing the grass plants.
If you let your lawn grow then chop it down a foot, you could kill your lawn which leaves bare soil which can lead to storm water runoff that takes contaminants into our rivers and streams.So, what’s the solution to help bees and protect your lawn? Slow Mow! Let your lawn grow to 6 inches, cut it back to 3 inches. Repeat. You could leave it grow to 4 inches tall and mow at 7 inches. The point is, don’t let it get away from you.
Now, for a more permanent solution to mowing, consider a mix of grasses that are specifically blended so you never have to mow. Fescue Low Grow No Mow is a mix from JRK Seed. Fine and tall fescues have much deeper root systems which means you don't need to water very often. Another option to consider is Sedge Grass. I have Pennsylvania Sedge which will grow up to about 8 inches or so and then just lay over. I bought mine from Prairie Moon Nursery, a seed/plant company that only sells native plants.
Top Ten List of Lawn Tips for more information on caring for your lawn.
My neighbors aren’t thrilled with my dandelions, and to be honest, they bug me too, but bees do love them.
Bottom line: Slow Mow is the best way to go.
Grazin’ in the Grass (and dandelions),
The Garden Scoop
