The Truth About No Mow May: What I Learned From Letting the Grass Grow
When I first heard about No Mow May—I was all in. The concept is simple and well-intentioned: hold off on mowing your lawn to help pollinators emerge from the leaf litter and early spring ground cover. Sounds wonderful, right?
And in theory, it is. But as with many things in the garden, context is everything.
The Upside: Pollinators Get a Head Start
Delaying mowing gives bees, butterflies, and other beneficial insects time to emerge from dormancy. In early spring, these pollinators are fragile and few flowers are blooming yet. Holding off on mowing also protects the leaf litter and microhabitats where they overwinter. That’s the beauty of the idea—and it does make a difference.
Scenario 1: Clay Soil + Full Sun = Lawn Jungle
On old farm lands turned into housing in Vermont, you likely will have clay soil and full sun—a combination grass loves. This is exactly the growing conditions at BB Lane Garden. By May 15th, that lush green carpet can turn into a knee-high thicket. If we wait until June 1st to mow, we would may need more than just your average push mower. Trust me, overtaxing a small mower or wrestling with tangled grass is not the kind of idyllic garden task most of us dream about.
Scenario 2: Sandy Soil + Shade
With these conditions, you’re lucky if you have anything to actually mow by the time May is over. This is exactly what Lunaria Estate has so I never need to mow before the beginning of June because there simply isn’t anything to mow. Because of the growing conditions, I only mow 3 times a year! And if I do say so myself, the lanscapring here looks professionally done.
The Pest Problem No Mow May Invites
Here’s where things got tricky for me. At BB Lane Gardens, when we skipped mowing until June, we had a massive increase in pests. Not pollinators—pests. Aphids, beetles, mice, even moles took shelter in the tall grass and quickly migrated to my garden beds. I spent the whole summer hand-picking bugs and ripping out ruined plants. Not exactly the eco-utopia I had envisioned.
Pollinators and pests both overwinter in the transitional borders between grass and fields. And unfortunately, not mowing creates the perfect conditions for both. Even respected garden experts like Charlie Nardozzi have come to similar conclusions: let your lawn grow—but within reason.
The Takeaway: Mow Smartly + Rewild where you can
Instead of going all-in on No Mow May, I suggest a balanced approach:
• Mow your lawn when it needs it—not obsessively, but also not only once a season.
• Keep plants and trees away from the foundation of your house to reduce pest migration indoors.
• And most importantly: rewild the areas of your lawn you don’t actually use.
That’s what I’ve done at Lunaria Estate. We have wide grass paths, but otherwise, every inch is planted with natives. It’s low-maintenance, high-benefit, and it supports pollinators all season long without inviting pest Armageddon.
Let the grass grow—but do it thoughtfully. Nature loves balance, and your mower (and garden) will thank you. If you want help rewilding your property or would like to tour Lunaria Estate which is 3.6 acres of native, wild land that has been shaped into a park like atmosphere, then book a consultation. It is a commitment that takes a few years to complete but I can tell you first hand that hanging out in your own personal park is fantastic and fun, unlike lawns which always make me feel bored.
