Slow Your Mow: Should Michigan Embrace A 'Slow Mow Summer'?

Here we go again. Just like 'No Mow May,' here's another catchy rhyme scheme designed to help Michigan residents provide the state's pollinators--pollinate. 'Slow Mow Summer' is the latest buzz phrase around the Mitten, but does better science than its predecessor back it? If you want to add a healthy bee population to your backyard, 'Slow Mow Summer' is the buzzing trend.

While the study behind 'No Mow May' has been retracted due to 'shotty science' (see link above), 'Slow Mow Summer' may actually be the best way to provide Michigan's bees with the ecosystem they've been missing. That is, IF your lawn has flowering plants.

What is Michigan's 'Slow Mow Summer' and Is It Right For Your Lawn

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If your lawn is a well-manicured, uninterrupted plot of nothing but grass, 'Slow Mow Summer' isn't right for you. Like the intention of 'No Mow May,' it is meant to allow flowering plants and weeds (looking at you, dandelions) an opportunity to blossom and pollinators like bees to feed off them. However, if you let Michigan's natural 'yard flowers, like butterfly weed, white clover, or geraniums, coexist with your grass and want to do something to improve Michigan's bee friendliness, you may want to consider the latest trend.

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To participate in 'Slow Mow Summer,' you need only let your yard grow long enough for its natural flowers to bloom and leave it there long enough for bees to do their thing. Most experts advise accomplishing this by letting your grass grow to 6 inches long and then cutting it down to 4. Or let it grow to 5 inches and trim it to 3.5 inches. Either length will allow blossoms enough time to be fed and spread their pollen while not taking more than a third off your grass length.

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Obviously, different areas have different tolerances for grass length, so consult your local village or township before putting yourself in the position of violating local ordinances.

If your neighborhood, city, or homeowners association doesn't allow or appreciate longer yard growth, consider portioning off a segment of your property as a wildflower bed.