Summary
Cities across Michigan are rethinking “No Mow May” as they weigh pollinator goals against concerns raised by residents and experts, including the possibility that letting grass grow taller could affect tick exposure. The annual initiative asks residents to stop mowing in May to create more flowering habitat for bees, butterflies and other pollinators during a period when food can be scarce.
In Michigan, the changes reflect a more targeted approach to yard ecology rather than an across-the-board one-month enforcement pause. David Lowenstein, a consumer horticulture expert for Michigan State University, said research is limited on whether letting grass grow for only a few weeks makes a meaningful difference for pollinators. He also argued that bees need both food and places to nest, and that the one-month window alone may not deliver.
Lowenstein said, “The science is not there to show it’s going to have a meaningful impact on bees,” and he added that bees rely on pollen and nectar for food and suitable nesting sites, which can be underground for cavity-nesting bees or in logs. He suggested that a reframed policy could better match what homeowners can influence in lawn ecosystems, including more emphasis on keeping certain low-growing flowers in lawns such as violets and white clover.
East Lansing’s shift shows how local governments are translating that skepticism into policy language. Cliff Walls, the city’s environmental sustainability and resiliency manager, said No Mow May helped raise awareness but that “a one-month mowing enforcement pause was never going to be the long-term answer.” East Lansing adopted a resolution redefining what counts as weeds and allowing for more pollinator-friendly landscapes year-round.
Walls said the ordinance “gives us a durable, year-round framework that supports ecological landscaping while keeping clear, fair expectations for property maintenance.” Under East Lansing’s 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.
Other Michigan communities are also adjusting the balance between habitat and potential unintended effects. Ann Arbor approved a No Mow May ordinance in 2022, but later replaced it with a Pollinator-Aware Yard Care initiative after feedback from residents, including concerns about side effects such as ticks. Sean Reynolds, a senior analyst for the city’s Office of Sustainability and Innovations, said, “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.”
Reynolds said those concerns included the potential for infective species, especially ticks, and he described the issue as part of the reason the city moved toward a more flexible approach. He also said, “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.” Ann Arbor now encourages residents to plant native species, reduce traditional turf lawns, limit pesticide use and reduce light pollution instead of pausing mowing across the board.
In Jackson, officials have used a narrower version of No Mow May since launching it in 2023. The program allows residents to let backyard grass grow while still requiring front yards and street-facing areas to be maintained, and it was reinstated this year after a brief pause. Christina Crouch, the city’s communications manager, said, “There are usually a lot more prevalent flowers after May, so that’s why May is such a critical time for pollinators because there are fewer options for them,” and she described the effort as “making ‘a small impact over time,’ adding more resources and options for pollinators.”
Ferndale took a different path after running its No Mow May program beginning in 2023. After the city ended the initiative in 2025, officials cited limited evidence of its effectiveness despite strong initial participation. More than 700 Ferndale households participated in an initial pilot program, but the city evaluated whether the program worked and concluded: “They are not.”
Ferndale’s website said the lack of effectiveness was “mostly due to the lack of pollinator-friendly vegetation present in the typical suburban/urban turfgrass lawn,” adding that the plants growing when grass is not mowed did not meaningfully contribute to pollinator habitats. The city now recommends residents maintain cut grass that is three or four inches tall, mow less often to reduce air and noise pollution, and remove only about a third of the grass each time.
This story was originally published by Bridge Michigan and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.