Overview
- Conservation groups including Bavaria’s LBV and Germany’s Nabu are asking homeowners to skip mowing until the end of May to turn yards into short-term habitat.
- Research cited by gardening advocates finds longer gaps between cuts raise species diversity, with guidance ranging from at least three weeks between mowing to only a few cuts per year.
- From June, the LBV recommends cutting roughly once a month with a scythe, composting the clippings, and mowing in patches so parts of the lawn remain as refuge.
- The groups warn that robotic mowers can injure small animals such as hedgehogs and urge gardeners to avoid pesticides and peat-based soils that harm insects and drain carbon-rich bogs.
- The LBV notes private gardens cover about 2% of Bavaria’s land, so small changes in lawn care can add up to measurable gains for regional wildlife.