Say no to the mow!

[mrbadexample]

Earlier in the year my lawn went brown and crispy in the heat. Then it rained biblically and this lot appeared:


I couldn't bring myself to mow it because there were so many bees on the clover. The longer I leave it the more I like it.


In addition to the bees I'm starting to see grasshoppers, butterflies, hoverflies and all sorts. I do like the look of a freshly mown lawn, but I get far more joy from seeing the life in this lot.

I don't think I'm ever mowing again. I might do the edges to keep it from invading the borders, and maybe cut a path through where I walk most often, but apart from that I think I'm done.

Anyone else?

MBE

[peanut]

I let my lawn grow too, it's mainly white clover these days with daisies, dandelions and selfheal. This year I got some birdsfoot trefoil, crimson clover and vetch seeds to use as green manures but will also throw some around the lawn and wild areas hoping they'll take.
I mow a path through my lawn, even then I have to be so slow because of all the bees feasting on there. Once the main flush of clover has finished, last week for me, I give it a tight mow and then let it start over again. I also let the bottom part of my garden and all the edges go completely untouched with just a selective cut back of pernicious weeds. My garden is full of wildlife and insects and I love it

[burnie]

I have wild bits, but cut a lot of the grass, my neighbour sometimes doesn't cut her lawn all year, so we have both environments, a lot of birds like to feed on a freshly cut bit of grass.

[Shortie]

This year I have let my lawn grown much long, and then mow it down but not as short as I used to cut it. Like you, mrbadexample, I saw the bees on the clover and other plants that popped up so leave mine much longer between cuts for that reason. I still do mow the lot but I figure it's much better for pollentating insects that I used to be so it's a compromise in my back garden

[ESBkevin]

Cutting later in the evening ensures many of the bees etc. have headed home, but there are always insects in the grass somewhere. A cylinder mower is potentially less harmful to the insect life compared to all that swirling air mass in a rotary affair. But if you let the grass grow longer from time to time you'll need a sythe or a rotary grass cutter! Cylinder mowers only cope with shorter well maintained lawns. So many of those insects are beneficial to the garden even if they are just food for birds.

[nvidura]

It sounds like you've created a wonderful little ecosystem in your lawn! It's amazing how nature bounces back after heavy rains, and it's great that you’re embracing the clover and the life it brings. The presence of bees, grasshoppers, butterflies, and hoverflies indicates a healthy environment, and it's clear that you appreciate the beauty of this natural habitat more than a perfectly mown lawn.

Mowing can often disrupt the habitats of these beneficial creatures, so your plan to only do some edging and maintain a few paths sounds like a great compromise. It's a fantastic way to support local wildlife while still enjoying your outdoor space. Keep observing and enjoying all the life that thrives in your lawn—it sounds like you’re making a positive impact on your garden's biodiversity!