UK Gardeners Urged To Keep Their Grass Clippings

We’re still in the middle of no-mow May; even if you’re not taking part, the recent hot weather means you should keep your grass longer if you do choose to trim it. 

But given that the UK is at “medium risk” of drought and that butterflies and other wildlife are disappearing from our backyards, experts advise keeping any grass clippings you do make – for multiple reasons. 

Keeping a pan of water in your garden can reveal how much more water plants might need, while covering their soil in mulches like coffee grounds or stones can prevent evaporation in the first place. 

And placing a halved orange or melon on your soil can ensure that birds receive some much-needed food without harming your garden’s crucial ecosystem.

The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says your grass clippings can also maintain your lawn’s hydration, while Dr Richard Fox, Head of Science at Butterfly Conservation, says that they can be key to keeping butterflies (80% of whose population has declined since the 1970s) safe too.

How can grass clippings help my garden?

Dr Fox writes that “anything you can do to make your garden more butterfly-friendly increases the chances of butterflies surviving.”

That involves skipping peat-based compost, as peat bogs, which are facing exhaustion, “are critical habitats for many native species, including the Large Heath butterfly.” 

One way to help is by choosing a wood-based compost or making your own “from vegetable scraps, grass clippings, and coffee grounds for an eco-friendly alternative.” 

The RHS adds that “Thin layers of grass clippings can be used to mulch around established plants” if you don’t have a mulching lawnmower. 

Mulches save you time weeding and also decrease your water consumption (you can check out the RHS and Cranfield University’s Mains To Rains site to see how much H2O you’re saving).

Any other mowing tips? 

Yes – Butterfly Conservation tells us that if you do want to mow your garden, consider leaving a patch of your lawn wild rather than the whole thing. 

Or, they say, “Try mowing a curvy path through an area of long grass or sow a mini wildflower meadow to help boost butterfly populations through a designated patch that allows wildlife to flourish.

“Simple changes can create a vibrant, wildlife-friendly space.”