No Mow May: Harm or help to your yard? An expert weighs in

SALT LAKE CITY — For the last month or so, the talk around the state has been flooding. How does one go about gardening during this spring of uncertainty? An online movement called No Mow May is urging people to let the grass grow in their yards.

They say it provides food for bees and other pollinating insects. However, some gardening experts are saying that could harm your yard.

The gardening experts say if you let your grass grow too long it can increase the chances for fungal diseases to develop. It can also allow for weeds to grow deeper, making it harder to get rid of when you do begin to mow.

Taun Beddes, host of the KSL Greenhouse Show and a Utah State University Extension horticulturist, joined Dave & Dujanovic with Dave Noriega and guest host Maura Carabello to discuss the situation.

Noriega asked, “When you hear this, is there a nugget of truth in it?”

“Well, the goal is to increase habitat for pollinators, which is a good thing,” Beddes said. 

Beddes says to get your lawn back to 3 inches after a month, you will probably use more gasoline. And it will stretch your grass.

Additionally, not mowing your grass for a month will invite snakes and rodents, according to Beddes.

Carabello asked, “How often am I mowing my lawn?”

“You want to mow to a height around 3 inches,” Beddes said. “You never want to mow more than a half of an inch off of your lawn to avoid stressing it too much.”

Noriega asked, “When should I start watering my lawn?”

“You supposed to be watering about once a week at this point,” Beddes said.

And if it rains, Beddes says to turn off your sprinklers for three to four days. 

Listen to the entire segment.

 

Dave & Dujanovic can be heard weekdays from 9 a.m. to noon. on KSL NewsRadio. Users can find the show on the KSL NewsRadio website and app, as well as Apple Podcasts and Google Play.

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