Our front "lawn" is now cut just once a year, around the end of August or beginning of September, and has been managed as a wild flower meadow for approaching 10 years. One of our neighbours has told us it is an “eyesore” but two other neighbours are adopting a similar approach to us.
Goodbye No Mow May
Photo by Larry Stoter
Our front "lawn" - we gave up on No Mow May nearly 10 years and now we cut it just once a year.
There are around 20 species of native wild flower species - Oxeye Daisy, Fox and Cubs, Common Hawkweed and Meadow Buttercup predominated in May and June. Many were already there, under the well mown grass of the previous owner - just changing the mowing regime resulted in a huge change in what appeared.
We have introduced one or two species - Yellow Rattle from locally collected seed, which reduces the grasses, and Common Knapweed which was transplanted from another, much smaller “wild” patch in the back garden, where it had appeared after we stopped mowing there.
Photo by Larry Stoter
There are also some slightly more unusual species - Broad-leaved Helleborine which appeared very early on, and what I think is Great Burnet despite the meadow not being especially damp.
Photo by Larry Stoter
What is fascinating is watching how, over the years, various species appear, some coming to predominate, and then decline. Rather to our surprise, this year a patch of Dyer’s Greenweed has appeared. No idea how it got there. It does occur in the wider area but nowhere close - a present from the birds, I suppose.
Photo by Larry Stoter
Our back garden lawn is cut more regularly, maybe once a month April to September although, like our front meadow, no herbicides or fertilisers are applied. Currently, it is covered in White Clover which the bees love. In May, a rather unusual inhabitant appears - Adder's Tongue Fern!