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No Mow Might is an annual marketing campaign that encourages folks to let their lawns develop wild all through the month of Might. City and suburban gardens can develop into havens for wildlife, wildflowers, and grasses, serving to to feed bees, butterflies, and pollinators all through the summer season.
James Ewens, gardening skilled at Inexperienced Feathers level outs, “Habitat loss, pesticides, and local weather change, are all contributing to the endangering of pollinators, so it’s essential that these critters are protected and supplied for, and this will begin in our personal gardens.”
Giving mowing a miss for a month is a great low-maintenance backyard concept, however with some severe advantages for the setting. However earlier than you dive in, take a look at what the consultants need to say to make your No Mow Might a hit.
James Ewens
James is a gardening and wildlife skilled at Inexperienced Feathers, who provide fowl field and wildlife cameras. James creates an area for studying about wildlife, and offering data on how you can finest care for them – all whereas having fun with their firm by real-time footage.
Prepare for No Mow Might
Earlier than you embrace the advantages of No Mow Might there are some things you are able to do to arrange your backyard. Ewens suggests, “Add some extra wildflowers to the garden to optimise that meals supply and habitat for our wildlife pals.”
However earlier than you do, he has one tip: “One very important factor some gardeners overlook in relation to including flowers or crops to their garden – take away your cuttings first.” He provides, “Raking your garden to take away cuttings will forestall vitamins from build up that may stifle the expansion of wildflowers.”
Graham Smith MCIHort, gardening skilled from LBS Horticulture, explains how you can get the perfect platform for development: “Wildflowers are likely to emerge higher from a brief garden, so it’s best to proceed to mow your garden as traditional earlier than Might except you’re hoping for spring wildflowers.”
It is value noting that you just need not use your complete garden for No Mow Might. You may select an space you wish to go away to develop and mow the remaining. When prepared, James Lewis, gardening skilled from MyBuilder.com says, “Do a last quick reduce, rake up clippings, and search for any downside crops or invasive species, resembling bindweed. He provides, “Take away what you may, and plant any fascinating crops useful to biodiversity, resembling Lavender.”
Attempt these to assist with No Mow Might
Mountfield Lawnmower Electress 34 Li Lawnmower
A robust light-weight 550W cordless electrical lawnmower that comes with a charger and two batteries. Features a 35L grass collector and has a 34cm reducing width.
This software will assist aerate your garden and clear away moss and garden thatch. It has a high-strength carbon metal head and an extra-long grip for consolation.
This high-quality, fast-growing grass seed has three several types of ryegrass to offer grass that’s robust, vibrant, and has wonderful put on tolerance.
Graham Smith MCIHort
Graham Smith MCIHort is the Nationwide Gross sales Supervisor at LBS Horticulture. He has intensive information within the horticultural and gardening industries, and prides himself on utilizing this to assist gardeners of all expertise create their excellent outside house.
Knowledgeable suggestions for No Mow Might
1. Nominate your No Mow Might space
It won’t be possible to let your complete backyard develop wild throughout Might (it’d spoil your lengthy backyard concepts), so rigorously choose areas that can give you the results you want. Lewis says, “In case you don’t plan to let your complete backyard run wild, select the areas you’re prepared to let go.” He provides, “Select to maintain entry paths mown, or areas of excessive footfall.” Alternatively, “Simply go away a small patch to develop whereas sustaining the remainder of their backyard”
2. Select what to develop
Lewis says, “Grasses and crops aren’t equal in relation to biodiversity and attracting pollinators.” He provides, “The truth is, some invasive species could even be dangerous. Think about plantingforms of Bluebell, Rosemary, or Wallflower, all of that are very engaging to bees and bugs.”
However you may have already got species that work nicely in your backyard, as Smith explains, “Flowering clover and daisies entice pollinators to your backyard, and pollinators are very important for fertilising crops in order that they will develop seeds or produce fruit.” He provides, “Different ‘weeds’ resembling dandelions will present an essential supply of nectar for wildlife and are considered a superfood for bees and butterflies, particularly as they flower earlier within the yr.” So be sure to don’t eliminate them.
3. Disturb the garden
Earlier than you deal with your mowing your garden, come June, Lewis suggests you assist out the native wildlife, “After a month of no disturbance, there could be a plethora of wildlife in your grass, resembling frogs or hedgehogs. Earlier than you do any mowing, try to disturb the grass in order that they transfer off.” He provides, “Additionally, be certain to test earlier than you narrow the blades actually quick, to keep away from injuring any wildlife.”
4. Be ready to reseed
Leaving your garden could imply it will get broken while you restore it. If so Lewis says, “Be ready to re-seed the place the brown patches can’t be saved.” He provides, “To do that, scarify your garden (take away all lifeless grass and particles), aerate the world of reseeding, and degree the soil. As soon as that is accomplished, distribute the seeds evenly over the soil, flippantly cowl them and moisten the soil. Hold the world nicely watered.”
James Lewis
James Lewis relies in Bexley; he runs a profitable landscaping enterprise recognized for remodeling outside areas into lovely, purposeful extensions of the house. With years of expertise, James leads a talented crew that specialises in designing and constructing gardens that improve each the look and value of a property.
What to do on the finish of No Mow Might
Natasha Wright
Tash is a large animal lover and joined Naturewatch Basis in September 2021 and helps all ongoing campaigns. She certified as a Registered Veterinary Nurse in 2017 and has not too long ago accomplished a level in Environmental Research.
When Might ends, you may soar straight in and mow your garden, or not. Natasha Wright, wildlife vet and marketing campaign co-ordinator at Naturewatch Basis suggests a measured method: “In case you do select to return to mowing, it’s finest to begin progressively and ensure to test for indicators of wildlife earlier than mowing.” Take a look at our how you can reduce lengthy grass information to be sure to don’t harm your grass.
She provides, “If animals are current, delay mowing or gently relocate them. While you do start, it’s finest to begin from one aspect and mow progressively throughout, quite than starting within the center, which permits bugs an opportunity to flee.”
When mowing, one tip Wright suggests is to go away backyard edges all through to offer year-round refuge for bugs and small animals.
On a extra sensible degree Nick Ee, Gardening product and coaching supervisor at BLACK+DECKER says, “Use a strimmer (like this Black + Decker Strimmer Grass Trimmer from Amazon) to chop away a few of the grass size earlier than stepping into with a lawnmower and ensure to set your mower blades excessive earlier than reducing them over time to keep away from damaging your mower and stunning the garden.”
For continued assist of wildlife all through the remainder of the yr, Wright says, “Householders can proceed by making a devoted wildlife nook of their backyard.” She suggests, “Including pure options like logs, shrubs, or perhaps a small pond. Easy additions like vertical planters, hanging baskets, and even planting a number of bushes or hedges can enhance biodiversity.”
If you’d like a challenge to assist wildlife, Ee says, “Attempt constructing one thing like a bee lodge.” He provides, “It is a enjoyable and cheap option to assist wildlife after No Mow Might with a little bit of DIY.”
In case you do construct or purchase a bee lodge (like this Woodside Wood Insect & Bee Home from Amazon), Ee says, “Mount the lodge in a sunny, sheltered, south-facing spot close to bee-friendly crops for finest outcomes.”
Nick Ee
Nick has over 10 years’ expertise working within the dwelling enchancment trade. Previous to becoming a member of BLACK+DECKER, he was self-employed working his personal van of instruments, and thru that has gained a wealth of real-world expertise within the residential development and gardening trade.
No Mow Might means you can be doing loads much less mowing, however when June comes round, you must take into consideration garden care. It is also a very good time to take a look at the newest backyard traits, together with some sensible small backyard design concepts when you have a small house.
