No-Mow May: feel-good movement or selfless sacrifice for pollinators?

No-Mow Mayis catching on, and even some municipalities now encourageresidentsto put away their mowers for the month. But not everyone thinks it's the bestway to help pollinators.

The idea is to let your grass growfor the whole month of May to allow pollinators, such as ground-nesting bees and butterflies, to have something to feast upon when they moveout of hibernation.

However, Sara Stricker, a turf researcher at the University of Guelph, says leavingthe lawn to grow might not be the best course of action for these species.

"It's a catchy hashtag ... You make cute banners, you know, 'pardon the weeds and feeding the bees' or something like that. It's a feel-good movement," she said.

Stricker said the number one weed in Canadian lawns is dandelions, but theyare not designed to feed native pollinators.

Andrew Holland with the Nature Conservancy of Canada, based in Fredericton,agrees. He said dandelions are not that nutritious for pollinators and they prefer native plants and shrubs as a food source.

He said bees, for example, are drawn toward colours like blue, purple, white and yellow, while butterflies and hummingbirds are especially attracted to red.

According to the Conservation Council of New Brunswick's website, bumblebees in particular like wildflowers such as marsh marigolds and golden ragworts in the early growing season and Joe Pye weed and smooth asters in the late growing season.

The council also says shrubs and trees such as dogwood, blueberry and cherry are important for providing pollen and nectar in early spring when there isn't as much food.

Holland suggeststhat instead of focusing on not mowing the lawn, youcould instead try to convert a patch of thatgrassinto an area with native plants.

"Native wildflowers that are here in New Brunswick or shrubs may be beneficial, because those are the types of things that these pollinators will go toward," said Holland.

He said providing nectar-rich flowers for pollinators is important because in Canada, 17 of the 38 major crops in the country are pollination-dependent.

"Taking care of the pollinators is something we need to think about for our own food security."

Holland said that there's nothing wrong with cities and towns promoting No-Mow May in an attempt to help pollinators, but he said people should be thinking about longer-term solutions, such asplanting wildflowers.

And Stricker said there'sa reason why people mow their lawns other than just for looks because long grass invites rodents, fleas, ticks, mosquitoes and even noxious weeds in some cases.

Lawns also cool the environment, she said, and they're needed more than patios or decks.

"All plantscool the environment, produce oxygen, filter rainwater, prevent erosion. And grasses are very easily adapted to urban settings in cities and towns, roadsides, parks," she said.

Stricker said people shouldn't judge their neighbours for wanting to mow their lawns. She said after participating in No-Mow May,if people want to go back to mowing their lawn for functional purposes, it may even "stress out" the grass and require more fertilizer, water and products to get it back to the way it was before.

Similarly, Holland said people also shouldn't judge those who don't have short, trimmed and "pristine" lawns.

"The fact of the matter is, there's something to be said for the au naturel look as well," he said. "And at least trying to help pollinators on a section of your lawn is a good idea."