Oooh, I love the No Mow update! We went ahead with our plans to do it, despite our village drama -- I got two signs explaining it and have seen people stop to read them -- and thus far, all is well. (And it made our tiny local newspaper yesterday -- not our yard or us, but a short article about why people might be seeing a lack of mowing during May -- which feels like a win!)
We have dandelions galore -- we always do, because we don't use chemicals on our lawn, but they are out in force now that we're not mowing. Violets came (and went just as quickly). Normally we have a ton of white clover but it's nowhere to be seen -- makes me wonder if mowing actually aids or otherwise facilitates the growth of clover? We've had a terribly late season all around so maybe they are just behind.
All in all, it has been a great experiment, which isn't even over yet.
Extra extra, read all about it: some neighbours leaving their lawns to grow a little bit for a few weeks! Seems mad, and yet, as you say, brilliant to raise awareness and sloooowly but surely change perceptions.
Interesting theory on the clover front. I don’t have a good answer. I know that, on paper, clover out-competes grass which is why it’s so good at infiltrating lawns in the first place, but I have no idea what impact mowing or not has on that “fact”.
Looking forward to seeing what new little wonders the next fortnight will bring!
We’ve not mowed the backyard yet. We knowingly have violets, clover and some other ground cover type plants that live in our lawn, and they seem happy un-mowed during their blooming month. We are concerned the mower may not be able to handle all the growth come June 1st, but we will see how it goes.
I think your concern is justified! Might be an idea to trim it down a bit using shears or a strimmer before going at it with the mower, for the sake of your lawn and mower both. Still, the hardest thing is going to be cutting it at all, and saying goodbye to all those lovely wild flowers!
I hear you on the tomatoes. I'm currently paralysed with indecision around how to protect them once I put them outside (this is my first attempt at growing them)... How do people do it in cities with small gardens?? I find myself mentally configuring all kinds of constructions of bamboo and leftover polythene wrapping etc to protect them from rain/wind/blight. I suspect I should just put them out and cross my fingers...
I’m sorry to hear about your dilemma Stuart, but also, I’m glad I’m not alone on this. The received wisdom is that tomatoes can go outside once nighttime temperatures are consistently and reliably above 10 degrees Celsius. Which is basically now. You should also of course harden them off before that, but that involves a lot of stairs in my case, so we’ll see how that goes…
As for protection, I hear you. In previous years my toms have succumbed to freak winds, freak hot spells (leaf burn), and freak cat strikes. So far, blight hasn’t been an issue, but I’m guessing I’ve jinxed that now so thanks for nothing Stuart.
The Canadian anemone I planted over a year ago is finally flowering! Also, blue false indigo and eastern bluestar and cranesbill geranium are all doing their thing now too!
I'm really looking forward to your coverage from Chelsea! Can't wait to see what you find there. And I'll be horribly disappointed if you don't post a selfie with Monty Don and/or Carol Klein. Don't let me down!
Oh god the pressure! I’ll have to bring my A game. And my selfie stick! Oh wait I don’t own a selfie stick - it’s fine, Monty looks like he’s got a hell of a wing span.
And thanks for the update about your plants. I had to look up the blue false indigo - what a beauty! I haven’t met (or Googled) a member of the pea family whose flower I didn’t love.
Oooh, I love the No Mow update! We went ahead with our plans to do it, despite our village drama -- I got two signs explaining it and have seen people stop to read them -- and thus far, all is well. (And it made our tiny local newspaper yesterday -- not our yard or us, but a short article about why people might be seeing a lack of mowing during May -- which feels like a win!)
We have dandelions galore -- we always do, because we don't use chemicals on our lawn, but they are out in force now that we're not mowing. Violets came (and went just as quickly). Normally we have a ton of white clover but it's nowhere to be seen -- makes me wonder if mowing actually aids or otherwise facilitates the growth of clover? We've had a terribly late season all around so maybe they are just behind.
All in all, it has been a great experiment, which isn't even over yet.
Extra extra, read all about it: some neighbours leaving their lawns to grow a little bit for a few weeks! Seems mad, and yet, as you say, brilliant to raise awareness and sloooowly but surely change perceptions.
Interesting theory on the clover front. I don’t have a good answer. I know that, on paper, clover out-competes grass which is why it’s so good at infiltrating lawns in the first place, but I have no idea what impact mowing or not has on that “fact”.
Looking forward to seeing what new little wonders the next fortnight will bring!
When you put it that way ("extra, extra!") it seems absolutely ludicrous, doesn't it? Thanks for making me laugh.
We’ve not mowed the backyard yet. We knowingly have violets, clover and some other ground cover type plants that live in our lawn, and they seem happy un-mowed during their blooming month. We are concerned the mower may not be able to handle all the growth come June 1st, but we will see how it goes.
I think your concern is justified! Might be an idea to trim it down a bit using shears or a strimmer before going at it with the mower, for the sake of your lawn and mower both. Still, the hardest thing is going to be cutting it at all, and saying goodbye to all those lovely wild flowers!
I hear you on the tomatoes. I'm currently paralysed with indecision around how to protect them once I put them outside (this is my first attempt at growing them)... How do people do it in cities with small gardens?? I find myself mentally configuring all kinds of constructions of bamboo and leftover polythene wrapping etc to protect them from rain/wind/blight. I suspect I should just put them out and cross my fingers...
I’m sorry to hear about your dilemma Stuart, but also, I’m glad I’m not alone on this. The received wisdom is that tomatoes can go outside once nighttime temperatures are consistently and reliably above 10 degrees Celsius. Which is basically now. You should also of course harden them off before that, but that involves a lot of stairs in my case, so we’ll see how that goes…
As for protection, I hear you. In previous years my toms have succumbed to freak winds, freak hot spells (leaf burn), and freak cat strikes. So far, blight hasn’t been an issue, but I’m guessing I’ve jinxed that now so thanks for nothing Stuart.
😂 Yeah soz 😜
The Canadian anemone I planted over a year ago is finally flowering! Also, blue false indigo and eastern bluestar and cranesbill geranium are all doing their thing now too!
I'm really looking forward to your coverage from Chelsea! Can't wait to see what you find there. And I'll be horribly disappointed if you don't post a selfie with Monty Don and/or Carol Klein. Don't let me down!
Oh god the pressure! I’ll have to bring my A game. And my selfie stick! Oh wait I don’t own a selfie stick - it’s fine, Monty looks like he’s got a hell of a wing span.
And thanks for the update about your plants. I had to look up the blue false indigo - what a beauty! I haven’t met (or Googled) a member of the pea family whose flower I didn’t love.