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Tips from the Muséum
Why consider not mowing the lawn?
Scientists are now advising people to stop mowing their lawns short in spring to give biodiversity a chance. How could this ‘wilder’ approach bring your garden back to life?
Saving the life in the lawn
Le jardin écologique au printemps
© MNHN – C. DuwicquetPlants can finally grow
When you pull out the lawnmower, an entire habitat is depleted. Flowers that grow at ground level, such as daisies, clover and dandelions, are a resource for pollinators. By allowing them to flower, pollinating insects can help plants reproduce and diversify the species in your garden: you'll soon see the appearance of wildflowers and bee-friendly plants. It also allows these plants to go through a natural life cycle free from human intervention: they grow, flower and produce seeds.
Escargot © Noel O'Shaughnessy - Unsplash
© N. O'Shaughnessy - UnsplashInsects are protected
Many small creatures live in your lawn! If you don't mow it, you're preserving their habitat and preventing them from being killed. This is the case for a large number of snails and small insects such as praying mantises, stick insects and beetles. Without these insects as a resource, birds will desert the area.
Healthier grass
Letting your lawn grow will bring other benefits to your soil: the blades of grass will be stronger and healthier. What's more, it protects the soil and prevents the lawn from drying out, especially in summer.
"No Mow May"
Since 2019, there has been a growing movement in the United Kingdom to stop mowing the lawn: "No Mow May". It's a practice that's becoming increasingly popular in France as well, and one that will delight the butterflies and other insects in our gardens!
Jardin à l'anglaise
© Basicmoments - stock.adobe.com
Un champ non tondu
© M. Baldwin - stock.adobe.comHow can you enjoy your garden?
While it's best to avoid mowing your entire lawn on a regular basis, you can give biodiversity a chance by mowing only a small area of your lawn, or by choosing your mowing periods carefully. You can also leave one area fallow and mow the rest. This differentiated mowing will still allow you to preserve a small nature reserve untouched by humans, to the benefit of soil life and birds.
Avoid spring at all costs
On the other hand, it is essential to avoid mowing in spring. This is a crucial period in the life cycle of the plants in your garden: flowering is essential for pollinators and plant reproduction.
See also —
Tips from the Muséum
And to further help your garden
Mare dans un jardin
© Andrea - stock.adobe.comKeep or install hedges
True sanctuaries for garden life, hedges made up of bushes and shrubs allow birds to build their nests in much-needed peace and quiet. These natural barriers are also very useful during strong winds and they help to limit flooding.
Ponds and other bodies of water
With global warming, many areas of calm water have disappeared. Yet they are vital for the amphibians, insects and birds of our regions. Along with filtering plants, these aquatic areas are major assets for biodiversity, and some require little maintenance.
Scientific proofreading
Noëlle Parisi
Technical manager of the Jardin des Plantes, at the Muséum national d'Histoire naturelle
Written in
Article written in July 2024