The views stated here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the editors of this newspaper. We welcome supporting or opposing views on any published item. Received April 25, 2023.
For years in our house, it has been a tug of war as to mow or not to mow. My husband enjoys the wildflowers and “volunteers” from neighboring yards that spring up in the lawn each year. However, I felt that passers-by would look at our yard as unkempt. The compromise is to leave patches unmowed, allowing the perception that these islands of wildflowers were landscaped deliberately. Now, with community efforts like No Mow May and the Pollinator Pathway Projects, I feel a bit more justified. As June arrives, our early “natural landscape” blooms go to seed. Then, I mow down these patches, making sure to leave enough flower heads standing to provide seeds for the coming year.
No Mow May is a movement gaining popularity across the country that encourages homeowners to leave their lawns unmowed through the month of May. With the decline in recent years of pollinator bees, butterflies and bats, efforts have emerged to provide natural flowering plants for pollinators as they search for energy in the form of pollen and nectar.
According to Bee City USA, a project of the Xerces Society for Conservation of Invertebrates and Their Habitats, “Lawns cover 2% of land in the U.S., making them the single largest irrigated crop we grow.” When I pass by a golf course, my first thought is to admire the expanse of beautiful green turf. But then, I’m reminded of the huge amount of fertilizer, pesticide and water used to maintain turf at golf courses and other facilities.
Similarly, some communities, more affluent than Haddam, have passed blight laws arguing that unkempt lawns lead to public health issues and erode property values. Mice and rats? Snakes? Mice and rats are more likely to be attracted to areas where there is food waste, not to your mini-meadow. Snakes eat mice and are more likely to be found in your stone wall or under your garden shed. However, natural landscaping can be an asset to home values if well designed.
The Natural Resources Defense Council reports that 200 million gallons of gasoline are used for mowing each year. Add to that 70 million pounds of pesticide, along with water, and imagine the cost and time devoted to perfectly manicured lawns.
A hundred years ago, only the mansions of the rich were landscaped with cut lawns and formal garden. Today, we all can have manicured lawns with the availability of fertilizers, weed killers, irrigation systems and, of course, noisy, gasoline-powered lawn mowers. Did I say we haven’t fertilized our lawn in years?
As for weed killers, we all have heard the health problems claimed by the use of herbicides like RoundUp. What is a weed, anyway? A weed is defined as any plant that is considered undesirable. I wouldn’t want any plant in my yard called undesirable. Perhaps invasive or not native would work. In our yard, if it’s green it stays, except poison ivy, of course. I’ll just call it shabby chic. Yes, it may require removing some invasive plants. Did you know buttercups are not native plants? I’ll keep them anyway. As for dandelions, they are a bright addition to a spring salad.
What are the benefits to consider by those who might want to honor No Mow May or want to contribute to improving the environment?
*Increase the habitat and thus the population of bees, butterflies and other pollinators.
* Provide seed heads for songbirds in winter.
*Provide shelter for insects that overwinter.
*Eliminate pesticides and herbicides that can kill pollinators, bats and birds or poison our wells. Studies have shown a possible link to Parkinson’s Disease from exposure to pesticides and herbicides.
* Decrease water usage or eliminate irrigation by growing native plants acclimated to our climate.
*Shrink areas of grass or turf which are of little to benefit pollinators.
*And reduce air and noise pollution by mowing less and mowing later.
Ticks? Penn State Extension service suggests creating borders three feet wide around native landscape gardens. Planting deer-resistant plants will help keep ticks from your yard.
I’m not a skilled gardener, nor am I an extreme climate change proponent. I do, however, try to respect the environment. As a community or a neighborhood, we can improve our environment with simple initiatives like No Mow May. We can educate our children and neighbors to respect wildlife and our habitat by example. Perhaps, Haddam’s Conservation Committee or the new Sustainability Committee might consider taking up this cause in some way.
Are you still not comfortable with an “unkempt” lawn? To ease your guilt, signs are available for purchase online such as, “Pardon the Weeds, We’re Feeding the Bees” or “I Don’t Mow So the Bees Can Grow.”
Sally Haase, Haddam
