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Research confirms that letting your lawn go a little wild is good for the planet

Admit it — you might have been a lazy mower this summer. You may have let those dandelions and weeds sprout and grow just a bit longer than normal.

According to experts, kudos to you. They say think of it this way: You’re not ignoring your weekend chores; you’re actually helping the environment.

Trimming the number of times you run the mower around the yard, known as “low mow,” can help reduce carbon emissions, build soil organic matter and even enhance pollinating habitats for bees.

“People may not think the small ecosystem in their own yard — the grass, soil and vegetation — is that important to the health of the whole planet,” says Alexandra Contosta, research assistant professor and assistant director at UNH’s Earth Systems Research Center. “But taking important small steps, like not mowing as often, can have a big impact on things like carbon storage and carbon emissions, which can influence climate change.”

If you’re in a place where lawnmowing continues into the fall, here are some tips from Contosta to keep the trend going:

Mow every two weeks. Mowing less allows for spontaneous lawn flowers, like clover and dandelions, that provide important nectar for bees, which are in decline and perform vital ecosystem services such as the pollination of food crops.

Try a “no mow” area. For larger yards, consider creating a zone that is cut less, or not at all, providing time savings as well as a beneficial habitat for butterflies. This can be useful for hard-to-mow areas or parts of the property that are not utilized.

Give the rake a break. Skip raking grass clippings; returning them to the soil provides high-quality, carbon-rich leaf litter that organisms can break down and store in soil organic matter. This keeps the carbon out of the atmosphere, where it contributes to warming temperatures.

Learn more
eos.unh.edu/earth-systems-research-center