Michigan cities that enthusiastically launched “No Mow May” campaigns in recent years are now stepping back from the annual mowing pause, as experts question the practice’s benefits for pollinators and public-health officials flag the danger of ticks moving into taller grass. The re-evaluation marks a shift from a simple springtime gesture toward year-round ecological landscaping, and it comes as new data shows Lyme disease risk spreading across nearly the entire state.
The No Mow May concept took off in 2019, promoted by the British conservation group Plantlife as an easy way to support bees and other pollinators by letting clovers, dandelions and low-growing plants flourish. By skipping mowing for a month, the reasoning went, homeowners could provide food for pollinators during a season when blooms are scarce. But the science behind that idea is weak, according to David Lowenstein, a consumer horticulture expert at Michigan State University.
“The science is not there to show it’s going to have a meaningful impact on bees,” Lowenstein said. “Bees need two things: food to eat, which comes in the form of pollen and nectar, and a place to nest, which could either be underground for cavity-nesting bees or in logs.”
Rather than a complete mowing holiday, Lowenstein recommends a more moderate strategy. “What would be a better rebranding would be something like, ‘Reduced Mow May’ … because there are certain kinds of low-growing flowers in lawns like violets and white clover that are good for bees,” he said. “Many bumble bees and smaller bees do visit those and if you were to let your lawn grow a little bit higher, maybe mowing it … every two or three weeks, if you could, would allow for some of those weeds that are good for bees to grow.”
That emphasis on sustainable, year-round practices is now taking root in several Michigan communities. East Lansing recently redefined what counts as weeds under city ordinances, clearing the way for residents to maintain native gardens and pollinator-friendly landscapes throughout the year. Cliff Walls, the city’s environmental sustainability and resiliency manager, said the month-long campaign had succeeded in raising awareness but was never a long-term solution.
“No Mow May raised real awareness about pollinators and got a lot of residents thinking differently about their yards,” Walls said. “But a one-month mowing enforcement pause was never going to be the long-term answer.” Under East Lansing’s new rules, plants taller than 6 inches can qualify as a native garden or lawn if they are intentionally planted, clearly defined, made up of native species and properly maintained. Walls said the framework “gives us a durable, year-round framework that supports ecological landscaping while keeping clear, fair expectations for property maintenance.”
Ann Arbor, which approved a No Mow May ordinance in 2022, has also moved away from the one-month model — in part because residents raised concerns about ticks. “When we had that ordinance in effect for 2022, we received a lot of public comment from folks, a lot of folks in support of the program and a lot of folks with concerns about the program,” said Sean Reynolds, senior analyst for the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations. “Back in 2022, when we had the No Mow May ordinance, there were concerns around infective species, especially ticks, which was a concern that we heard and part of the reason we wanted to transition to something that’s a little more flexible.”
The tick threat is not theoretical. According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services’ 2026 Lyme Disease Risk Map, 82 of the state’s 83 counties have a known or potential risk for Lyme disease, driven in part by the spread of blacklegged ticks. Taller grass creates a more inviting environment for the arachnids, particularly during the spring months when they are most active, experts say. Ann Arbor now promotes a broader Pollinator-Aware Yard Care initiative that encourages planting native species, shrinking turf lawns, limiting pesticide use and reducing light pollution.
Other cities are trying to strike a middle ground. Jackson, which launched a limited version of No Mow May in 2023, still allows residents to let backyard grass grow in May while requiring front yards and street-facing areas to remain mowed. Christina Crouch, the city’s communications manager, said there are usually more flowers later in the season, making May a critical time for pollinators and giving the backyard-only program “a small impact over time.” Ferndale, in contrast, ended No Mow May entirely in 2025 after a pilot program drew more than 700 participants but found no meaningful benefit.
“This is mostly due to the lack of pollinator-friendly vegetation present in the typical suburban/urban turfgrass lawn, meaning that the plants that do grow when not being mowed do not contribute to pollinator habitats in any meaningful way,” the city explained in a statement on its website. Ferndale now advises residents to keep grass at three to four inches tall, mow less often and remove only about a third of the grass each time.
The collective rethinking underscores a growing consensus among scientists and local officials: supporting pollinators requires more than a temporary break from the lawnmower. While No Mow May drew public attention, the work of building genuine habitat for bees and butterflies is turning out to be a year-round commitment.