Homeowners are being called to reassess their views on wildflowers, as research indicates a prevailing tendency to categorise plants like dandelions and daisies as mere weeds.
Plantlife, the conservation charity, is championing its yearly “no mow May” initiative, urging Brits to put away the lawnmower during May and even throughout summer to bolster plant life and wildlife. With a scorching heatwave on the cards for May, leaving your garden grass to grow long will also help to retain moisture and prevent scorching.
Survey results from Opinion Matters, involving more than 2,000 participants for Plantlife, revealed that a significant 56 per cent deem dandelions as weeds and nearly the same proportion (52%) regard thistles similarly. A notable 26 per cent of the respondents considered clover as a weed, and just over one in five (21%) thought alike for buttercups and daisies.
The study also highlighted that many are eager to eliminate what they perceive as weeds due to fears of rapid spread, unsightliness, indications of a neglected lawn, and competition with other plants for space and nutrients. Conversely, one in four people acknowledged that some weeds bear beautiful blooms that contribute to a garden’s allure, and one in five recognised their essential role in providing pollen and nectar for pollinators.
The survey also found that only a third of individuals tended to their lawns every fortnight or so in May, with more than 20 per cent mowing weekly or even more frequently, which coincides with the blooming period of many flowers.
This includes common wildflowers found in lawns and gardens such as dandelions, daisies, buttercups, clover and thistles, which serve as a food source for pollinators and other wildlife.
Plantlife suggests that gardeners can support a variety of species by easing their mowing habits and establishing different zones like functional short turf alongside perennial herbaceous borders and flowering lawn.
According to the charity, lawns with the greatest diversity of wildflowers – ranging from yellow rattle and white clover to selfheal, cowslips and even orchids – are those that feature patches of grass of varying lengths.
Moreover, longer grass can attract species such as burnet moths, nursery web spiders and grasshoppers, while waxcap fungi including blackening waxcap or witches’ hat can thrive in unfertilised, mossy lawns.
Nicola Hutchinson, director of conservation at Plantlife, stated: “It’s time to rethink wildflowers – they aren’t weeds, they are unsung heroes of the natural world.
“Wildflowers are crucial to garden ecosystems, supporting pollinators, insects and even birds, playing a significant role in the food chains for wildlife.
“With over 23 million gardens in the UK, using no mow May as the starting point for relaxing mowing throughout the entire summer can deliver substantial benefits for plants, pollinators, people and the planet.”
Sarah Shuttleworth, expert botanical adviser at Plantlife, added: “If you struggle dealing with long grass, even a reduction in mowing to once a month throughout the summer can boost lawn biodiversity.”
She also mentioned that individuals without gardens aren’t excluded from participating in nature conservation. According to her, transforming even the smallest outdoor spaces such as yards or balconies into a “mini haven” is very much possible for nurturing plants and pollinators alike.
Plantlife isn’t just focused on private gardens; it advocates for wildlife-friendly management of public areas, including parks and roadside verges. Mark Schofield, an advisor for road verges and green spaces at Plantlife, weighed in, highlighting: “Changing the way we manage grassland creates space for nature while still meeting community needs.
“It reimagines road verges as wildlife corridors, supporting biodiversity and helping to build climate resilience, while keeping roadsides safe,”.