Hold the mower this spring

Garden groups are telling people to cut grass less this spring, even as East Lansing, Michigan, drops its May pause on tall-grass enforcement. (rhs.org.uk) (cityofeastlansing.com) The Royal Horticultural Society says in April that mowing once every two weeks lets dandelions, clover, daisies and self-heal flower for pollinators, and says some areas can be left long through spring and summer. In its May advice, the group says gardeners can skip mowing all or part of a lawn until at least August for the biggest wildlife benefit. (rhs.org.uk 1) (rhs.org.uk 2) Plantlife, the conservation charity behind No Mow May, says the campaign began in 2018 and now urges people to start in May and keep “cutting less, for longer” through June and the rest of the season. Its lawn guide says gardens with early spring flowers may need less mowing in April too. (plantlife.org.uk 1) (plantlife.org.uk 2) The basic idea is simple: shorter, more frequent mowing favors plain grass, while longer gaps let low wildflowers bloom and feed insects. The Royal Horticultural Society says a “flower-rich” lawn can still be managed, with mowing adjusted to the kind of lawn a gardener wants. (rhs.org.uk 1) (rhs.org.uk 2) East Lansing moved the other way on April 7, 2026, when its City Council adopted Policy Resolution 2026-24 and formally retired the city’s No Mow May enforcement pause. The city says standard turf-grass height rules now apply throughout May. (cityofeastlansing.com) City officials said the old pause helped raise awareness, but called its ecological benefits limited and pointed residents instead to a longer-term native-landscape framework tied to Ordinance 1558. East Lansing’s website says residents still have options to support pollinators, but not by simply ignoring height rules for a month. (cityofeastlansing.com) (cityofeastlansing.com) That marks a change from last year. East Lansing’s 2025 city notice said the council had approved No Mow May for a third year after a recommendation from the Commission on the Environment. (cityofeastlansing.com) (cityofeastlansing.com) The split shows how “No Mow May” has broadened into a more flexible spring-lawn message in Britain while some United States cities are shifting toward permanent native-plant rules instead of one-month exemptions. In both cases, the target is the same patch of ground: the ordinary lawn. (plantlife.org.uk) (rhs.org.uk) (cityofeastlansing.com) For homeowners this April and May, the practical choice is no longer just “mow” or “don’t mow.” It is whether to keep a close-cut lawn, mow every couple of weeks, or leave a section long enough to flower. (rhs.org.uk) (rhs.org.uk)