No More No Mow? University of Minnesota says skip letting your lawns grow for "No Mow May"

As May begins experts are warning against participation in "No Mow May" arguing there are better alternatives to creating a pollinator-friendly yard.

The idea is long grass will give pollinators more cover during the month of May.

University of Minnesota turf grass scientist Jon Trappe says while many people have the right intentions with the trend, it may do more harm then good, and won't offer that much to butterflies and bees.

"There's probably some negative effect on a lawn if you just don't mow it for a month, especially in the month of May when our lawns are growing so much," says Trappe. "As it is, the most that they grow in the year is in the month of May."

Instead Trappe says planting pollen and nectar-rich plants in your yard will fuel and shelter them all summer long.

Trappe says there's a practical alternative to letting the lawn grow wild in May.

"Simply just raising your mowing height to above, at least, 3.5 inches is a great start for really anybody, anyone that's planting and maintaining a bee lawn," Trappe explains. "The best thing to do is to deliberately plant things that are going to be accessible to them more than just a single month in the year."

Trappe says plants like white clover and creeping thyme are great options for a pollinator-friendly yard.

POLLINATOR LAWN TIPS

- Bee lawns have flowers mixed in with turf grasses such as fine fescues and Kentucky bluegrass.

- The flowers of a bee lawn provide food (nectar and pollen) for pollinators.

- Bee lawns are environmentally friendly because they are managed using low-input methods that generally use less fertilizer and pesticides.

- Bee lawns can still be used recreationally by your household like a regular lawn.

- A bee lawn can attract over 50 species of native bees.

Learn more about having a pollinator-friendly lawn in Minnesota here .