Definitely doing this, although I did a really quick once-over of our small lawn with the hover last week to clear the carpet of leafy weeds which were strangling eveything else. I’ve also scattered a couple of handfuls of mixed seed from seed packets randomly and we’ll see if a mini-meadow comes up. I’m also growing wheat berries – Ölands and Emmer – in gallon buckets on the patio and they’re coming up really well.
I keep a wildflower garden and it has exploded over the last 2 weeks of alternating sun and rain.
Not gonna mow, but it needs a prune badly.
I’ve done this in the past but tbh if you live in a picturesque area it’s not really well received by the boomer garden centre crowd, even if you explain your reasoning.
I want to do this but know NOTHING about gardening beyond “mow your lawn when it’s looking untidy”.
I have loads of packs of wildflower seeds too from various kids birthday parties.
Is it just as simple as throwing all of the seeds into the lawn on the 1st May, leaving the mower in the shed for a month, and it will all look amazing? Or do I throw them just into a small area? I have a fairly large garden as the average garden goes so I can definitely pick “the best place”
My kids do like running around on the grass – will they be able to still?
Would love some expert advice on how to do this best…
Someone came round our back garden with a strimmer and cut it all before we woke up because they were sick of looking at it hahaha.
Hopefully they get this message.
It’s been like that here for 3 years, no one can be fucked to cut grass.
This works if you’ve got a big lawn or don’t use your garden much but I’d just be forever treading in cat shit while I’m hanging up washing if I let my tiny lawn grow too much.
We have a couple of acres and I leave a 20ft strip around it as meadow and we have native plants in our pots, beds and window boxes such as cornflowers and poppies. I avoid wildflower mixes, they look pretty but tend to flower all at once and do not do help insects early and late in the season. A few dandelions now are far more useful
Might be doing this accidentally, don’t know, but we’re about to move house and I doubt the lawn in the new place is getting mowed at the moment, the previous residents moved out already, and we’re not expecting to be able to move in til June.
As far as my lawn is concerned the wildflowers can stay, but the ants need to fuck right off.
I’m going to mow paths in the lawn to get to the patio, bird feeder etc., but other than that I’m going to sprinkle some wild flower seeds and watch it go nuts.
The county council, on the other hand, spend £££s razing any green bits next to roads to within 2mm of the ground. I did actually write to my (Tory) councillor to point out that leaving it alone where it wasn’t a safety issue would save money and help wildlife. He genuinely and sincerely could not have given less of a fuck.
We’ll be doing no mow May. Only got a 4×4 metre grassy “lawn” if that’s what it can be called. My neighbour is looking to have astro grass laid down, need to have a word and see if I can convince him not to do that.
I haven’t mown my front lawn since last year, September maybe. The grass is a good 6-7inch tall at the moment with maybe 4 dandelions in it. I left it to see if anything would grow other than the grass but other than the few dandelions, it looks like it’s just grass. Would anything ever be able to grow in/through the grass now or should I just expect to have long grass and nothing more? I’ve thought about over seeding with wildflower seeds but I’m guessing they won’t propagate with the grass as it is. In the future I’m going to take it all out and install/build an actual meadow, just don’t have time for it this year.
Anyone willing to do this think about doing no mow May – September. That’s when the majority of bees are most active. You can hack it right back after that if you like.
I can’t understand why all the road/motorway verges and roundabouts in the country aren’t seeded and managed with native wildflowers.
It would be easier and more environmentally friendly than having machines cutting grass constantly over the summer.
It would be a huge win for the greens.
EDIT: Industrial business parks, too. They often have huge green spaces that are manicured to death nd would look great with wildflowers instead.
Barely any insects to appreciate my wild flower patch. Farmers have decimated the insects in this country. Went for a walk yesterday in the countryside and didn’t hear a cricket, a scuttle or even a buzz.
Adding clover to the lawn is also another great boost for both insects and the soil. Also adding plants to borders such as:
Obviously so many more plants out there to choose from, always good to research what does best in your local area but I think the above will do well pretty much anywhere in the UK.
Starting out making small, inexpensive changes, seeing the results and plotting out the next gets addictive (and potentially pricey) but its so rewarding not only for the wildlife we share our gardens with but also visually. I didn’t think I’d ever have any love for plants and gardening but now as I reach the age 40 I try find any excuse to raid the bargain bins of garden centres/nurseries even supermarkets if the offerings look good and healthy. Picking up a 2nd hand book on plants by season can help you pick plants to bridge gaps in flowering for bees if you want to ensure as long a period of food as possible. Google can do the same ofc. Really hope people spend more and more time in their gardens and feel encouraged by the stories of others to do their own bit, be it something small or big. It all counts. Its all important and makes a difference.
I’ve been doing this for about 3 years now. Fantastic idea and great for nature. My council does it as well. The roads look so much nicer with flowers either side or at least a bit of texture. It’s great for children to learn about different insects too, and also what sort of places you’ve got in your grass from the common dandelions, daisies and buttercups, to borage, violas and less common flowers.
I’ve been doing this for the last couple of years. I enjoy seeing all the insects doing their thing
I’ve got a small lawn which is currently just grass and dandelions.
I’m an utterly inexperienced gardener, how would I go about turning that into a flowery nature space? Can’t be the only one in this situation, so a good simple guide would do well.
I’d love to, but with a dog and a small garden, this will just mean hidden shit absolutely everywhere impossible to pick up properly as it all gets stuck in the long grass.
We have sleepers along the side instead with lots of bee-friendly flowers growing so we try and do our bit.
Really can’t get Yellow rattle to grow. Scattered lots of seeds.
We have a patch of ground near the bottom of the garden which doesn’t grow lawn very well because of the shade, so we cut it all back, turned the soil over and planted wildflower seeds, which sprouted beautifully last year. Doing the same this year. We’ve also given up on growing veg in a little raised area so chucked wildflower seeds there too. The bees were going mental and loving it.
Our lawns had been left to their own devices for a year or two before we moved and they’re a lovely mix of clovers, daisys, dandelions, random flower bulbs and whatever else has blown in plus a bunch of clover we seeded last year in the bare/burnt spots..
I will probably be doing at least one mow in May, because it’s nightmare picking dog poop up from long grass and the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to give me chance to do one before the end of the month.
cant wait for the endless facebook posts from people going insane at the council for not cutting their verge
Chucked a lot of grass and wildflower seeds on the lawn just yesterday. No idea what I’m doing though, I just raked a bit, threw the seeds everywhere and then sprinkled water everywhere. Godspeed little seeds.
I do this as I do every year. In fact, I do this 11 months of the year definitely for environmental reasons.
I went further than this – I actually sowed several packets of meadowflower seeds on my front lawn and left it unmowed for the last two years.
Apart from a few daisies, I grew a fine crop of dandelions. And however bad things may be for other British wildflowers, the dandelion needs absolutely no help whatsoever to survive!
This year I’m moving my front lawn again!
haha yeah that’s why I don’t mow, because I’m an environmentalist, yeah let’s go with that
These large estate gardens need to this.
Capability Brown designed ones love these huge swathes of green grass to proving to others that they could afford to waste space on lawn rather than grow crops.
Would have a larger impact than people’s gardens.
I work for my local council cutting grass and we’ve just been given this initiative to leave specific areas all through May on top of areas we have been leaving and cutting once a year. It’s all well and good in theory for here but the problem is we don’t have meadow grass, so what tends to happen is the stuff just shoots up and then just falls over and looks horrendous.
My landlord threatened to evict me last year because I hadn’t cut the lawn for 2-3 weeks, so no, I don’t think I’ll be doing No Mow May, however much I’d like to. Gotta keep the poor landlords happy!
During Covid, none of the grass on the main roads was cut. I used to drive down a dual carriageway to work and the central reservation was about 3ft tall with grass and flowers.
Then lockdown ended and the council cut it all down.
Not only did it create a habitat for wildlife but it looked so much nicer than mowed lawn and tarmac. Maybe there’s something about it restricting your view of the other side of the road, but if there’s a barrier there’s no reason to cut it back.
i was saying this in 2019. oh wait that was “No mo’ May”
Gardeners urged not to mow, but huge polluting companies carry on and government isn’t going to pan certain pesticides…
If you have a public facing lawn, stick a sign in the front, ‘Wild Flower Garden’ . Magically you turn from neglectful property owner into, bastion of british countyside.
37 comments
Definitely doing this, although I did a really quick once-over of our small lawn with the hover last week to clear the carpet of leafy weeds which were strangling eveything else. I’ve also scattered a couple of handfuls of mixed seed from seed packets randomly and we’ll see if a mini-meadow comes up. I’m also growing wheat berries – Ölands and Emmer – in gallon buckets on the patio and they’re coming up really well.
I keep a wildflower garden and it has exploded over the last 2 weeks of alternating sun and rain.
Not gonna mow, but it needs a prune badly.
I’ve done this in the past but tbh if you live in a picturesque area it’s not really well received by the boomer garden centre crowd, even if you explain your reasoning.
I want to do this but know NOTHING about gardening beyond “mow your lawn when it’s looking untidy”.
I have loads of packs of wildflower seeds too from various kids birthday parties.
Is it just as simple as throwing all of the seeds into the lawn on the 1st May, leaving the mower in the shed for a month, and it will all look amazing? Or do I throw them just into a small area? I have a fairly large garden as the average garden goes so I can definitely pick “the best place”
My kids do like running around on the grass – will they be able to still?
Would love some expert advice on how to do this best…
Someone came round our back garden with a strimmer and cut it all before we woke up because they were sick of looking at it hahaha.
Hopefully they get this message.
It’s been like that here for 3 years, no one can be fucked to cut grass.
This works if you’ve got a big lawn or don’t use your garden much but I’d just be forever treading in cat shit while I’m hanging up washing if I let my tiny lawn grow too much.
We have a couple of acres and I leave a 20ft strip around it as meadow and we have native plants in our pots, beds and window boxes such as cornflowers and poppies. I avoid wildflower mixes, they look pretty but tend to flower all at once and do not do help insects early and late in the season. A few dandelions now are far more useful
Might be doing this accidentally, don’t know, but we’re about to move house and I doubt the lawn in the new place is getting mowed at the moment, the previous residents moved out already, and we’re not expecting to be able to move in til June.
As far as my lawn is concerned the wildflowers can stay, but the ants need to fuck right off.
I’m going to mow paths in the lawn to get to the patio, bird feeder etc., but other than that I’m going to sprinkle some wild flower seeds and watch it go nuts.
The county council, on the other hand, spend £££s razing any green bits next to roads to within 2mm of the ground. I did actually write to my (Tory) councillor to point out that leaving it alone where it wasn’t a safety issue would save money and help wildlife. He genuinely and sincerely could not have given less of a fuck.
We’ll be doing no mow May. Only got a 4×4 metre grassy “lawn” if that’s what it can be called. My neighbour is looking to have astro grass laid down, need to have a word and see if I can convince him not to do that.
I haven’t mown my front lawn since last year, September maybe. The grass is a good 6-7inch tall at the moment with maybe 4 dandelions in it. I left it to see if anything would grow other than the grass but other than the few dandelions, it looks like it’s just grass. Would anything ever be able to grow in/through the grass now or should I just expect to have long grass and nothing more? I’ve thought about over seeding with wildflower seeds but I’m guessing they won’t propagate with the grass as it is. In the future I’m going to take it all out and install/build an actual meadow, just don’t have time for it this year.
Anyone willing to do this think about doing no mow May – September. That’s when the majority of bees are most active. You can hack it right back after that if you like.
I can’t understand why all the road/motorway verges and roundabouts in the country aren’t seeded and managed with native wildflowers.
It would be easier and more environmentally friendly than having machines cutting grass constantly over the summer.
It would be a huge win for the greens.
EDIT: Industrial business parks, too. They often have huge green spaces that are manicured to death nd would look great with wildflowers instead.
Barely any insects to appreciate my wild flower patch. Farmers have decimated the insects in this country. Went for a walk yesterday in the countryside and didn’t hear a cricket, a scuttle or even a buzz.
Adding clover to the lawn is also another great boost for both insects and the soil. Also adding plants to borders such as:
*[Aquilegia](https://www.pyracantha.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/How-to-plant-and-grow-Aquilegias.jpg) that drop loads of seeds at the end of their run for next year.
*perennial [Cornflower](https://www.plantgenesis.co.uk/Files/108738/Img/19/Centaurea-montana-Pixabay-Feb-2021-300×300.jpg) that comes back each year.
*[budleja](https://gardenpark.com.pl/1913-home_default/budleja-nanho-blue.jpg) that attracts butterflies, needs managing as they grow huge and spread but worth it IMO.
*[Hebe](https://www.merryhatton.co.uk/files/images/webshop/hebe-add-donna-julia-blue-800×600-62f119ea4e9a1_src.jpg) are really beautiful, attract bees but are fairly sensitive to frost, can get leggy, don’t prune well and can be expensive for larger pots.
*[Skimmia](https://img.crocdn.co.uk/images/products2/pl/20/00/02/49/pl2000024904_card6_lg.jpg) gives lovely early flowers, pretty hardy.
Obviously so many more plants out there to choose from, always good to research what does best in your local area but I think the above will do well pretty much anywhere in the UK.
Starting out making small, inexpensive changes, seeing the results and plotting out the next gets addictive (and potentially pricey) but its so rewarding not only for the wildlife we share our gardens with but also visually. I didn’t think I’d ever have any love for plants and gardening but now as I reach the age 40 I try find any excuse to raid the bargain bins of garden centres/nurseries even supermarkets if the offerings look good and healthy. Picking up a 2nd hand book on plants by season can help you pick plants to bridge gaps in flowering for bees if you want to ensure as long a period of food as possible. Google can do the same ofc. Really hope people spend more and more time in their gardens and feel encouraged by the stories of others to do their own bit, be it something small or big. It all counts. Its all important and makes a difference.
I’ve been doing this for about 3 years now. Fantastic idea and great for nature. My council does it as well. The roads look so much nicer with flowers either side or at least a bit of texture. It’s great for children to learn about different insects too, and also what sort of places you’ve got in your grass from the common dandelions, daisies and buttercups, to borage, violas and less common flowers.
I’ve been doing this for the last couple of years. I enjoy seeing all the insects doing their thing
I’ve got a small lawn which is currently just grass and dandelions.
I’m an utterly inexperienced gardener, how would I go about turning that into a flowery nature space? Can’t be the only one in this situation, so a good simple guide would do well.
I’d love to, but with a dog and a small garden, this will just mean hidden shit absolutely everywhere impossible to pick up properly as it all gets stuck in the long grass.
We have sleepers along the side instead with lots of bee-friendly flowers growing so we try and do our bit.
Really can’t get Yellow rattle to grow. Scattered lots of seeds.
We have a patch of ground near the bottom of the garden which doesn’t grow lawn very well because of the shade, so we cut it all back, turned the soil over and planted wildflower seeds, which sprouted beautifully last year. Doing the same this year. We’ve also given up on growing veg in a little raised area so chucked wildflower seeds there too. The bees were going mental and loving it.
Our lawns had been left to their own devices for a year or two before we moved and they’re a lovely mix of clovers, daisys, dandelions, random flower bulbs and whatever else has blown in plus a bunch of clover we seeded last year in the bare/burnt spots..
I will probably be doing at least one mow in May, because it’s nightmare picking dog poop up from long grass and the weather doesn’t look like it’s going to give me chance to do one before the end of the month.
A very good resource for learning – [Wild your garden](https://www.youtube.com/@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton) they encourage just one or two mows per year if you don’t need the space for anything else.
cant wait for the endless facebook posts from people going insane at the council for not cutting their verge
Chucked a lot of grass and wildflower seeds on the lawn just yesterday. No idea what I’m doing though, I just raked a bit, threw the seeds everywhere and then sprinkled water everywhere. Godspeed little seeds.
I do this as I do every year. In fact, I do this 11 months of the year definitely for environmental reasons.
I went further than this – I actually sowed several packets of meadowflower seeds on my front lawn and left it unmowed for the last two years.
Apart from a few daisies, I grew a fine crop of dandelions. And however bad things may be for other British wildflowers, the dandelion needs absolutely no help whatsoever to survive!
This year I’m moving my front lawn again!
haha yeah that’s why I don’t mow, because I’m an environmentalist, yeah let’s go with that
These large estate gardens need to this.
Capability Brown designed ones love these huge swathes of green grass to proving to others that they could afford to waste space on lawn rather than grow crops.
Would have a larger impact than people’s gardens.
I work for my local council cutting grass and we’ve just been given this initiative to leave specific areas all through May on top of areas we have been leaving and cutting once a year. It’s all well and good in theory for here but the problem is we don’t have meadow grass, so what tends to happen is the stuff just shoots up and then just falls over and looks horrendous.
My landlord threatened to evict me last year because I hadn’t cut the lawn for 2-3 weeks, so no, I don’t think I’ll be doing No Mow May, however much I’d like to. Gotta keep the poor landlords happy!
During Covid, none of the grass on the main roads was cut. I used to drive down a dual carriageway to work and the central reservation was about 3ft tall with grass and flowers.
Then lockdown ended and the council cut it all down.
Not only did it create a habitat for wildlife but it looked so much nicer than mowed lawn and tarmac. Maybe there’s something about it restricting your view of the other side of the road, but if there’s a barrier there’s no reason to cut it back.
i was saying this in 2019. oh wait that was “No mo’ May”
Gardeners urged not to mow, but huge polluting companies carry on and government isn’t going to pan certain pesticides…
If you have a public facing lawn, stick a sign in the front, ‘Wild Flower Garden’ . Magically you turn from neglectful property owner into, bastion of british countyside.