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What month to cut grass/ lawn #928158

Asked April 12, 2026, 3:12 PM EDT

I wish to hold off and let the violets, and any other flower be available for bees and butterflies to get a good start. So, when to start? May 1 ? June 1? Thank you

Oakland County Michigan

Expert Response

Thanks for thinking about our pollinators

When you mow is not as important as how high you mow. Leaving your lawn a little bit taller (3 ½ to 4 ½) allows low growing flowering plants like dandelion and clover to flower even after mowing. In fact, research suggests that letting your lawn get too long can be detrimental to both your lawn and the flowering plants in your lawn. Here are a few excellent resources that explain in more detail mowing and its impact on your lawn:

https://beelab.umn.edu/slow-mow-summer

https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/no-mow-may-2025

Also having a chemical-free lawn is essential to maintaining pollinator health!

Here are a couple of more resources for on pollinator-friendly lawns: https://pollinators.msu.edu/resources/pollinator-planting/pollinator-lawns.aspx

https://www.pollinator.org/pollinator.org/assets/generalFiles/Creating-Pollinator-Lawns_A-First-Step.pdf

Thank you for your question! Replied April 13, 2026, 10:34 AM EDT

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