human3500, 28 days ago

@ottaross Can you fill me in on how no mow may is good for bees and birds?

I never see bees on dandelions and the birds are mostly looking for worms it seems. What are your birds and bees doing in the lawn?

It seems like a way to spread dandelions more than anything.

ottaross, 28 days ago

@human3500 I'm seeing lots of birds in the grass today getting bugs & worms. Watched a yellow one (warbler? we don't know birds much) that pulled a dandelion down to the ground, stood on it, and pecked away at the seed head.

Our lawn is full of various flowers. I do see bees on dandelions, but on other flowers too.

I find the dandelions are actually easier to control this way too. In a mowed lawn they grow short and don't get cut by a mower. The longer ones are easy to get mow down.

human3500, 23 days ago

@ottaross Conveniently, here's a story on no mow may. https://globalnews.ca/news/10504895/no-mow-may-master-gardener-nova-scotia/

ottaross, 23 days ago

@human3500 Oh yeah, I've been hearing a bit of a media feeding frenzy to push-back on the topic lately.

There's an almost predictable "anti" movement that emerges against any environmental benefit movement as media tries to make these things seem all good or all bad. They don't ask enough q's about motivation of the detractors.

I'm satisfied that there are benefits and concerns, but there's net benefit that appeals to me.

ottaross, 28 days ago

Well I worked myself to into tired&sweaty status, so that'll do for today.

I tuned up the old push-mower and mowed a path to the veg/herb garden, while letting the rest of the yard stay in #noMowMay mode.

Also trimmed a buffer of about half a metre around said garden so we can do some planting without stamping on the long grass & such.

Lots of work, but likely nobody but me would notice any difference. Ugh, such are the rewards of yard care.