BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM

Letting your lawn grow wild in May to help bees and other pollinators? That’s the pitch behind No Mow May, a conservation campaign that has bloomed on social media and in neighborhoods across North America. The idea is simple: stop mowing for one month so early-season pollinators can feast on dandelions, violets, and other spontaneous lawn flora.

Given that one in four native bee species in North America is at risk of extinction, the impulse to help pollinators is well-founded. As Clay Bolt of the World Wildlife Fund-US notes, participating in No Mow May can even support endangered species like the queen rusty patched bumble bee, which emerges just as spring kicks in.

Since its beginnings in 2020, the Optimist Daily has also encouraged our readership to participate in this initiative. But now that five years have passed, we should ask the question: is putting your lawnmower in park for a month really the best way to help? Experts say the answer is… complicated.

What No Mow May gets right

Despite the controversy, No Mow May has some real upsides:

1. It’s accessible and free

As Bolt points out, creating a meadow or prairie in your yard takes time, money, and planning. “No Mow May is an initiative that people can participate in, regardless of their finances or amount of free time,” he says. “The entry fee is nothing.”

2. Lawns can support pollinators — to a degree

Matthew Shepherd of the Xerces Society reminds us that lawns aren’t just empty space: “We might think of habitat loss and imagine bulldozers and chainsaws, but mowers and leaf blowers are almost as bad.” He points to studies showing lawns can host a surprising range of bee-friendly flowers. In Massachusetts, herbicide-free lawns supported 111 bee species. In Minnesota, white clover in city parks attracted 56 bee species. In Kentucky, 37 species were observed feeding on lawn dandelions and clover.

3. It sparks conversation

Both Bolt and Shepherd see No Mow May as a great conversation starter. “The discussions that start between neighbors within communities about what we can do to make these areas better for bees is, for us, the real benefit,” Shepherd explains.

Where the movement falls short

For all its buzz, No Mow May has come under fire:

• Letting grass grow unchecked for a month can actually make it harder for bees to access low-growing flowers.
• Some people resent the unkempt look of overgrown lawns.
• The original study supporting No Mow May was retracted, leading to confusion.
• It only provides food for one month — a drop in the bucket for year-round pollinator needs.

As Shepherd puts it, “No Mow May is a nice hashtag and a great title, but the reality of it is way more complicated than that.”

Even so, he and other experts don’t want to toss the whole thing out. “I’m a big believer that the pursuit of perfection should not be the enemy of good,” says Bolt.

Tips for a smarter No Mow May

If you’re giving it a try, these expert-backed tips will help:

Educate your neighbors

Unmowed lawns raise eyebrows. The Xerces Society offers free printable lawn signs — even a kids’ version — so your neighbors know your wild lawn is intentional.

Know your local rules

Some cities and HOAs limit grass height. Check before you ditch the mower, or advocate for temporary exceptions in support of bee conservation.

Ease your lawn back to normal

When May ends, don’t hack everything down at once. Cut gradually, removing only one-third of the grass height at a time to avoid stressing your lawn.

Adjust for your region

Depending on your climate, a different month might work better. The goal is to time your mow-less period with the first flush of lawn flowers — whether that’s March, April, or May.

Alternatives to No Mow May

Not ready to embrace the shaggy lawn? There are other bee-friendly options:

Low Mow May

Mow once or twice instead of weekly. It keeps your yard tidier while allowing flowers to bloom.

Slow Mow Summer

This extended approach promotes mowing less often and at higher heights all summer, providing consistent food sources for pollinators.

Research backs it up: one study found lawns mowed biweekly attracted more bees than those mowed weekly.

A piece of the puzzle

Ultimately, No Mow May isn’t a cure-all — and it’s not supposed to be. “The endpoint of conservation shouldn’t be growing dandelions,” Shepherd says. Instead, it’s a first step: an invitation to rethink the way we treat our lawns and the species we share them with.

In Livingston, Montana, where Bolt helped launch No Mow May in 2021, it led to broader efforts: more native wildflower planting, less frequent mowing, and reduced pesticide use. That’s the long game — transforming the places we live into real habitats.

Whether you’re skipping the mower entirely or just easing up, every small action helps. And in a world where one in four bee species faces extinction, small actions matter more than ever.