Lessons Learned from “No Mow May”

By Jon Trappe Turfgrass Extension Educator University of Minnesota

Before I get started, I am not going to be speaking very much on how No Mow May affects your lawn or pollinators you might find there. You can find write-ups on this at www.turf.umn.edu. I think there are some other important lessons from No Mow May that have become apparent in my relatively short time as Turfgrass Extension Educator with the University of Minnesota. I am sure many other turf professionals have had similar experiences - maybe a client, coach, or neighbor has asked what you think of No Mow May and how it affects the turf or pollinators. In some cases, these questions may come from someone that has a favorable or an unfavorable view of turf.

It is rare for something in the green industry to move so quickly into the public consciousness as No Mow May. Sure, part of why it became popular had to do with people feeling like they could benefit their environment by literally doing nothing for a month in which they would normally have had to mow two or three times at a minimum. Another reason is that people are gaining an appreciation for pollinators and wanting to do their part. From my own observations, I think much of what explains the rapid rise in awareness of No Mow May has to do with changing sentiments of what a lawn is and how it should be maintained.

The beauty of this whole situation is that based on the current science, regardless if someone wants to benefit pollinators or not, our recommendations are the same that they have always been - raise the mowing height. A higher mowing height has numerous benefits to your lawn, the environment, and to the pollinators that frequent it. Responding to questions about No Mow May has been a terrific opportunity as an Extension Educator to reach an incredibly wide audience in a relatively short period of time.

The simplicity of the message and that it will benefit lawns of all types makes it more likely to be received and implemented. In some cases, this might be to homeowners who want to have a uniform dense turf that resembles Allianz Field or it could be someone who “puts up” with maintaining a lawn if it means having an area to play with their golden retriever. Both audiences are benefiting from the message and we do not have to alienate or denigrate either for them to have a healthier and more functional lawn.

The environmental and human benefits of turf are pretty well documented As professionals in the turf industry I think we should be prepared to explain why turf provides value, regardless of how someone is planning on using it. It is not always going to be a “win-win” where a simple recommendation makes everyone happy. But there are plenty of teaching opportunities we can seize, and in the process demonstrate our levels of expertise, ultimately making future allies or at the very least raise awareness for what turf provides to society.