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May 19, 2025
Every spring, a growing number of homeowners are joining the No Mow May movement to help bees, butterflies, and other pollinators. But could letting your lawn go unmowed for a month also invite unwanted guests like ticks? Let’s take a closer look and discuss how you can support pollinators without turning your yard into a tick hotspot.
What is No Mow May?
No Mow May is a campaign encouraging people to leave their lawns unmowed through May. The idea is simple: by letting grass and wildflowers grow, you're offering early-season food sources for pollinators emerging from winter.
It’s a great concept for conservation, but like any change to your landscape, it comes with trade-offs.
How No Mow May might affect tick activity
Ticks, especially blacklegged ticks (deer ticks), thrive in tall grass and dense vegetation. When lawns go uncut and vegetation thickens, you create a more favorable environment for ticks to rest, reproduce, and wait for a host to pass by.
Tall grass also creates a humid, shaded layer near the ground where ticks are more likely to survive and stay active. Your efforts to help pollinators could unintentionally increase the risk of tick encounters, especially for pets and people moving through the yard.
But that doesn’t mean you must choose between pollinator health and protecting your family. With a few adjustments, you can support both.
How to support pollinators without encouraging ticks
Focus on native flower beds instead of tall grass
Unmowed turfgrass doesn’t provide nearly as much benefit to pollinators as native wildflowers do. Planting native flower beds, pollinator strips, or container gardens is a more targeted and effective way to support bees and butterflies, without inviting ticks.
Mow walking paths and keep high-traffic areas clear
If you choose to let part of your yard grow naturally, cut walking paths through the space and keep the areas you use most often trimmed. This keeps your yard accessible and reduces the chances of brushing against tick habitat.
Maintain the perimeter of the lawn
Ticks often enter from wooded edges, fence lines, or overgrown brush. Keeping the perimeter of your yard mowed and well-maintained can serve as a buffer, making it harder for ticks to move into recreational areas.
Remove leaf litter and yard debris
Even if you're letting some grass grow, it's important to remove tick-friendly clutter like wet leaves and brush piles. These hold moisture and offer shelter—ideal conditions for ticks, but not necessary for pollinators.
Use mulch or gravel borders around play areas
A three-foot-wide mulch or gravel barrier around patios, swing sets, or seating areas can help reduce tick movement into those zones. Ticks avoid hot, dry materials and are less likely to cross these borders.
Support pollinators with trees and shrubs
Flowering trees and native shrubs offer nectar sources for pollinators without the need for overgrown grass.
Encourage natural predators
Certain birds, like robins and wild turkeys, feed on ticks. Creating a bird-friendly yard with native plants, clean water sources, and sheltered areas can encourage these natural pest controllers to stick around.
Protect your family from ticks with help from Pine State
No Mow May is a well-meaning movement with tangible benefits for pollinators, but it doesn’t have to come at the expense of your family’s comfort or safety. A balanced approach to landscaping can give bees and butterflies what they need, while making your yard less attractive to ticks.
If you're noticing tick activity or just want peace of mind while ticks are active in Maine, Pine State Pest Solutions can help. Our locally owned and operated pest control company knows how to reduce tick populations and will work with you to create a custom plan that fits your property, supports your goals, and keeps your family and pets protected all season long.
Contact Pine State Pest Solutions to schedule your tick control service today.
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