Denise Godbout-Avant, a UC Master Gardener in Stanislaus County with UC Cooperative Extension since 2020, said on Mar. 25 that not mowing lawns for four weeks during March through May can help make them more attractive to insects, amphibians, and birds. She wrote that lawns cover about 40 million acres in the United States and are often managed as monocultures requiring significant resources but offering little benefit to wildlife.
The recommendation comes as part of the “No Mow Spring” movement, which encourages homeowners to skip mowing for a month in early spring so flowers can bloom and provide vital pollen and nectar for bees, butterflies, moths, and other beneficial insects. Godbout-Avant said this practice helps newly emerging insects at a critical time when flowers are scarce after winter.
Godbout-Avant also pointed out that frequent mowing reduces nesting sites for native bees—70% of which nest in the ground—and that pesticides and fertilizers used on lawns can harm both invertebrates like bees and small vertebrates such as frogs. She suggested reducing mowing year-round by cutting grass every two or three weeks instead of weekly to conserve water, reduce pollution from gas-powered equipment, and create better habitats for wildlife. To maintain a neat appearance while supporting biodiversity, she recommended keeping buffer zones trimmed around less-mowed areas.
The University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR), which oversees programs like the UC Master Gardener initiative, secures funding through public contributions to support its work according to the official website. The organization promotes sustainable practices aimed at strengthening resilient ecosystems and economic vitality according to the official website, utilizing nine research and extension centers across California’s diverse environments according to the official website.
UC ANR is recognized for linking research with community needs according to the official website as part of its Cooperative Extension services within all 58 counties according to the official website. The organization conducts over 33,800 educational events annually with more than 18,400 volunteers engaged in its initiatives according to the official website.
For those interested in supporting pollinators further than just reduced mowing periods or buffer zones around their yards, Godbout-Avant suggested incorporating low-growing flowering species such as native clovers or violets into lawns or even replacing some lawn area with native shrubs or trees. “‘No Mow Spring’ or ‘No May May’ (or perhaps should be called ‘No Mow March’ here in California) are names for a movement that aims for understanding the importance of how we can help the small creatures we share our gardens with,” Godbout-Avant said.
