No Mow May: How to prepare your lawn
No Mow May is an annual campaign that encourages people to let their lawns grow wild throughout the month of May. Urban and suburban gardens can become havens for wildlife, wildflowers, and grasses, helping to feed bees, butterflies, and pollinators throughout the summer.
James Ewens, gardening expert at Green Feathers point outs, “Habitat loss, pesticides, and climate change, are all contributing to the endangering of pollinators, so it’s crucial that these critters are protected and provided for, and this can start in our own gardens.”
James is a gardening and wildlife expert at Green Feathers, who supply bird box and wildlife cameras. James creates a space for learning about wildlife, and providing information on how to best take care of them – all while enjoying their company through real-time footage.
Get ready for No Mow May
Graham Smith MCIHort, gardening expert from LBS Horticulture, explains how to get the best platform for growth: “Wildflowers tend to emerge better from a short lawn, so you should continue to mow your lawn as usual before May unless you are hoping for spring wildflowers.”
Try these to help with No Mow May
Mountfield Lawnmower Electress 34 Li Lawnmower
A powerful lightweight 550W cordless electric lawnmower that comes with a charger and two batteries. Includes a 35L grass collector and has a 34cm cutting width.
This tool will help aerate your lawn and clear away moss and lawn thatch. It has a high-strength carbon steel head and an extra-long grip for comfort.
This high-quality, fast-growing grass seed has three different types of ryegrass to provide grass that’s strong, vibrant, and has excellent wear tolerance.
Graham Smith MCIHort is the National Sales Manager at LBS Horticulture. He has extensive knowledge in the horticultural and gardening industries, and prides himself on using this to help gardeners of all skills create their perfect outdoor space.
Expert tips for No Mow May
1. Nominate your No Mow May area
2. Choose what to grow
But you might already have species that work well in your garden, as Smith explains, “Flowering clover and daisies attract pollinators to your garden, and pollinators are vital for fertilising plants so that they can develop seeds or produce fruit.” He adds, “Other ‘weeds’ such as dandelions will provide an important source of nectar for wildlife and are thought of as a superfood for bees and butterflies, especially as they flower earlier in the year.” So make sure you don’t get rid of them.
3. Disturb the lawn
4. Be prepared to reseed
James Lewis is based in Bexley; he runs a successful landscaping business known for transforming outdoor spaces into beautiful, functional extensions of the home. With years of experience, James leads a skilled team that specialises in designing and building gardens that enhance both the look and usability of a property.
What to do at the end of No Mow May
Tash is a huge animal lover and joined Naturewatch Foundation in September 2021 and supports all ongoing campaigns. She qualified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017 and has recently completed a degree in Environmental Studies.
Nick has over 10 years’ experience working in the home improvement industry. Prior to joining BLACK+DECKER, he was self-employed running his own van of tools, and through that has gained a wealth of real-world experience in the residential construction and gardening industry.