NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The initiative called No Mow May urges residents to leave their lawnmowers in storage during early spring and allow plants such as flowers and grasses to flourish for the benefit of pollinators and improved water absorption. Should you notice that your neighbor’s yard often resembles a meadow filled with wildflowers, this may not just be carelessness but rather an intentional choice aimed at supporting local ecosystems.
The initiative has now grown into “Let It Bloom June” and its autumn counterpart:
“Leave the leaves.”
Conservation and gardening organizations advocate for maintaining low mowing throughout the year while selectively allowing some areas to remain untouched.
native plants to grow
It can conserve substantial quantities of potable water and result in enduring and significant environmental transformations.
In 2016, when Amanda Beltranmini Healen relocated to her Nashville ranch-style home, the landscape was meticulously maintained for prospective buyers: featuring a walnut tree, some roses purchased from a hardware retailer, and neatly trimmed grass. Eager to transform this space, she started small—a 10×10 foot area where she removed the sod and scattered native seeds instead. Next, she introduced goldenrod plants along the drainage channel close to the road and allowed much of her lawn to flourish uncut.
Apparently, the local officials weren’t fond of her natural appearance: “I received a notice from the city stating that I needed to cut it down,” she explained.
However, a friend informed her about the No Mow Month signs, which were offered by the
Cumberland River Compact
, a local water conservation non-profit organization. Quickly, she began to indicate to the city officials that she wasn’t a vagrant, but rather part of an international initiative.
Nowadays, each month feels like No Mow May for portions of her land. She maintains a more trimmed appearance close to the culvert and road, but her back garden brims with indigenous grasses and flora reaching knee-high or even waist-high. A decaying log serves as home to numerous lizards and insects, bird nests can be found beneath her carport, and she frequently discovers young deer resting within the protective tall grasses.
I’ve got plenty of insects and bugs around here, which serve as protein for the local wildlife. As a result, you can find birds and their nests all over,” she explained. “There are cardinals, wrens, cowbirds, and robins.” She continued, “These birds accompany me every morning, particularly during the current spring migration period. In the mornings and evenings, there’s quite a symphony with the arrival of mulberries.
The movement has gained popularity through groups like
Plantlife
, an environmental protection group located in England.
American lawns, influenced by English and French styles, are progressively viewed as inefficient monocultures promoting excessive pesticide, fertilizer, and water usage. In households across the U.S., outdoor spraying and watering make up more than 30% of overall water consumption, with this figure doubling in regions experiencing arid conditions, statistics show.
the EPA
.
Some
criticize
No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month.
A
guide outlining
No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at the University of Iowa, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints.
The No Mow initiative encourages individuals to consider biodiversity in their yards, with numerous local nature groups offering advice on selecting non-invasive plant species that suit regional climates and rainfall patterns.
Decreasing lawn maintenance fosters the growth of native grasses and flowers with deeper roots. These plants help break up dense soil and enhance water drainage, “which means that during rainfall, more water will be absorbed and retained in your yard rather than becoming runoff and flowing into the stormwater system,” explained Jason Sprouls, who serves as the urban waters program manager at the Cumberland River Compact.
Beltranmini Healen doesn’t allow just any plant to flourish; she has identified which species are invasive, non-native, or lack ecological benefits. She meticulously trims and removes these unwanted plants, ensuring that only those essential for maintaining biodiversity can prosper.
When Nashville resident Brandon Griffith grew weary of constantly maintaining his lawn several years back, he opted to let nature take its course and observe what would emerge. He intentionally planted flowers designed to lure bees and various insects. Nowadays, his garden teems with an abundance of these creatures, drawing neighborhood children who visit specifically to spot butterflies.
“It’s all about providing enough time for them to emerge from their larvae or eggs and develop,” explained Griffith. He mentioned he has never received any complaints—on the contrary, several of his neighbors have also ceased mowing once every spring for a month. His four-year-old boy enjoys catching lizards, searching for worms, and hunting insects in the garden.
I simply like strolling around here,” remarked Griffith. “It feels quite serene when you look at it; very calming.
