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Lawn Mowing for Birds, Bugs and Bees

Lawn Mowing for Birds, Bugs and Bees

photo of a blue jay standing on a lawn with long grass and dandelions
By: Sarah Sharp, Municipal Assistance Program Assistant Manager

Americans maintain roughly 40 million acres of lawns, making them the largest irrigated crop in the U.S. While lawns may seem harmless, they offer little benefit to wildlife, especially bees, as they lack floral resources and nesting sites, plus they require significant resources including time, money, and water. Additionally, the use of pesticides on lawns harms pollinators and other invertebrates. In terms of habitat loss, manicured lawns are just as detrimental as urban development. So, what can you do?

Let your lawn live a little 

For decades, we have been conditioned to value lush green lawns resembling a golf course, but greener doesn't always mean better. These monocultures provide little to no environmental benefits and are costly to maintain. Instead, skip the chemicals and embrace the beauty of diversity. Let flowers like clover, dandelions, and native violets—which have been traditionally considered weeds—grow. If you can’t say goodbye to a pristine grown lawn, consider amplifying pollinator habitats in other areas of your property, such as adding native plants favored by pollinators to your garden or including flowering native trees and shrubs in your landscaping.

image of a fox resting on a lawn that was left to grow longer and flower

Cut back

Give yourself a break and reduce your lawn mowing to once every two or three weeks. Mowing less not only saves you time and money, but it also reduces emissions and can allow lawn flowers to grow, supporting pollinators. In case you're worried a longer lawn means more ticks, rest easy knowing that a study by the US Forest Service, University of Minnesota, and University of St. Thomas found that reduced mowing did not contribute to more of the tiny parasites.

Mow with the highest setting  

Adjust the blade height of your mower to three inches or higher. By keeping your grass a little longer, the grass can develop a healthier roots system, making your lawn more resilient to pests and drought.  

Reduce lawn areas

Consider reducing the amount of lawn you maintain. Keep high traffic areas of lawn where your kids play or your dog runs, but consider converting areas of lawn that typically go unused to pocket gardens or native wildflower meadows. Turf grass can be swapped for more beneficial ground cover, like native sedges, grasses, or mosses. Make sure to select native plants when converting your lawn to ensure the most benefits to local pollinators. Plus, native plants are also best suited to your local environment, so once established they are more tolerant of changes in temperature and precipitation.

two images showing a before and after landscaping project designed to create more habitat for pollinators

Whether you are aiming for a small adjustment to your lawn care routine or a major landscaping overhaul, any change—big or small—can significantly impact the health of our local pollinator populations. 

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