What Are the No Mow May Benefits? Is It Worth It?
“#NoMowMay” is a global environmental conservationist movement started by the UK-based organization Plantlife in 2019. The movement campaigns annually, encouraging homeowners worldwide to stop mowing their lawns each May before returning to regular mowing each June.
But what are the No Mow May benefits? Do the drawbacks outweigh them?
Fortunately, this blog has the answers you seek; keep reading for insight from our pest control experts!
No Mow May Benefits
Ultimately, No Mow May benefits wildlife. The idea is that homeowners take this month-long mowing hiatus, allowing wild plants and fungi to grow freely on their lawns, increasing the food and shelter available to animals in a given area.
Drawbacks to #NoMowMay
Despite potential No Mow May benefits, participating in this movement creates considerable drawbacks for homeowners everywhere—especially in Alabama and elsewhere in the Southeastern U.S. Essentially, leaving your lawn unmowed during springtime invites all the bugs floating around your neighborhood and from nearby woods to live on your property.
Plantlife is based in the UK, but in Alabama, we have much higher, widespread, and diverse populations of native and invasive insects. If you’ve never visited Alabama before, you’d be surprised at the amount and diversity of bug species you can find in the backyards of suburban neighborhoods alone.
Plus, thanks to the humidity in the spring and summer, overgrown, unmowed lawns trap moisture in the roots of the grass, where many insects thrive.
Ultimately, unless you are ready to face the chaos of dozens of insects swarming your property and potentially infesting your home, we recommend you avoid joining the #NoMowMay movement as more than a non-participant supporter.
Better Ways to Connect with Nature this Spring and Summer
If you want to get involved with efforts to conserve and protect Alabama’s natural beauty—with our state’s specific wildlife, plants, and fungi in mind—you’ll be pleased to know there are already many in motion that don’t pose risks of pest infestations on homeowners’ lawns.
The Alabama Wildlife Federation (AWF) and the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) are two of many organizations leading movements like these, which you can easily learn more about by visiting their websites.
Birmingham Pest Control Solutions that Respect Wildlife
Don’t get us wrong just because we’re pest control specialists. We greatly appreciate the intentions behind No Mow May and its potential benefits for wildlife. After all, we believe every creature has a vital role in its natural habitat—even pesky mosquitoes!
For 40+ years, our team of integrative pest management professionals from Vulcan Termite & Pest Control has proudly aided hundreds of families in Birmingham and nearby communities by investigating and solving problems with pests on their property.
Our pest service agents exercise great caution and care when using pesticides on your property, preventing exposure risks to your family, pets, and non-harmful insects you don’t mind having on your property (or may need for garden pollination, e.g., bees and butterflies).
Call us at 205-663-4200 or contact us online today to tackle existing pest problems or spring and summer prevention service on your property! We’ll gladly perform a FREE evaluation and create and implement an effective strategy using our tried-and-true methods so you and your family can enjoy a pest-free home.
Curious to learn more about common critters found in Alabama or how to safely and humanely deal with them when they show up on your property uninvited? Check out more of our weekly pest blogs for helpful tips, tricks, and educational content!