Latest news with #LetItBloomJune
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Ditching the lawnmower may have unexpected health benefits, according to experts
As more homeowners embrace the trend of "Let It Bloom June" — a natural successor to the popular "No Mow May" movement — there is growing momentum on social media in support of wild lawns. While these campaigns were launched to support pollinators and biodiversity, some experts claim that skipping the mower could actually be good for your health. Mowing, raking, digging and lifting might seem like harmless weekend chores, but according to Dr. Michael Policastro, a board-certified emergency physician and medical toxicologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, they can be physically taxing. Beach Days Benefit Mental Health And Well-being As Visits Provide 'Sea Therapy' "Lawn and garden work is physically demanding and can lead to muscle strains, back pain and joint injuries," Policastro told Fox News Digital. The repetitive motions, awkward postures and sometimes heavy loads involved in yard work can strain the body in ways that accumulate over time, the doctor cautioned. Read On The Fox News App Even the act of pushing a lawnmower may not be as harmless as it looks. "Vibrations from lawnmowers can strain your lower back, and poor posture while pushing or steering equipment can lead to pain in your back, knees and wrists," Policastro noted. Anti-aging Benefits Linked To One Surprising Health Habit Failing to warm up or stretch before tackling the lawn only raises the risk of fatigue or injury, which can result in chronic pain over time. Chemical pesticides and herbicides involved in lawn care can carry their own set of risks, especially when airborne, Policastro cautioned. Click Here To Sign Up For Our Health Newsletter "Pesticide sprays can also drift in the air, making it easy to breathe in harmful chemicals without realizing it," he said. There could be a psychological upside to ditching the mower and embracing a natural yard. Several mental health professionals agreed that lively, unmanicured spaces can foster mindfulness and well-being. "Being in a green, natural environment can promote mindfulness and a sense of calm," Greg Adelstein, a licensed mental health counselor and owner of Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Hollywood, Florida, told Fox News Digital. "It also provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which can boost self-esteem." Letting nature reclaim the yard could also mean fewer chemicals and health hazards, some experts say. Pain Could Be Reduced By Watching Nature Scenes, New Study Suggests Fox News Digital previously reported on a study that linked exposure to nature with a reduction in people's experience of pain. This suggests the potential health benefits of a more natural lawn that promotes everyday access to wild plants and animals. Natural lawns and gardens can also help combat loneliness by encouraging community engagement through shared gardening or conservation efforts, according to Elena Saldamando, a licensed clinical social worker and director of Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Avalon Park, Florida. Despite the potential risks, tending to a lawn can present some benefits when done safely, experts say. "Gardening promotes mindfulness and can lower cortisol levels, helping you feel calmer," Saldamando told Fox News Digital. "Watching how the light hits a leaf, listening to birds chirp, feeling soil and dirt in your hands, smelling the flowers and seeing vegetables grow can be very grounding." To reduce the physical strain of mowing and other yard work, Policastro recommended taking regular breaks, using ergonomic tools and maintaining proper posture. For more Health articles, visit It's also important to work in a well-ventilated area and to wear a mask or respirator when handling dusty materials or applying chemicals, according to the article source: Ditching the lawnmower may have unexpected health benefits, according to experts
Fox News
10-06-2025
- Health
- Fox News
Ditching the lawnmower may have unexpected health benefits, according to experts
As more homeowners embrace the trend of "Let It Bloom June" — a natural successor to the popular "No Mow May" movement — there is growing momentum on social media in support of wild lawns. While these campaigns were launched to support pollinators and biodiversity, some experts claim that skipping the mower could actually be good for your health. Mowing, raking, digging and lifting might seem like harmless weekend chores, but according to Dr. Michael Policastro, a board-certified emergency physician and medical toxicologist in Cincinnati, Ohio, they can be physically taxing. "Lawn and garden work is physically demanding and can lead to muscle strains, back pain and joint injuries," Policastro told Fox News Digital. The repetitive motions, awkward postures and sometimes heavy loads involved in yard work can strain the body in ways that accumulate over time, the doctor cautioned. Even the act of pushing a lawnmower may not be as harmless as it looks. "Vibrations from lawnmowers can strain your lower back, and poor posture while pushing or steering equipment can lead to pain in your back, knees and wrists," Policastro noted. Failing to warm up or stretch before tackling the lawn only raises the risk of fatigue or injury, which can result in chronic pain over time. Chemical pesticides and herbicides involved in lawn care can carry their own set of risks, especially when airborne, Policastro cautioned. "Pesticide sprays can also drift in the air, making it easy to breathe in harmful chemicals without realizing it," he said. There could be a psychological upside to ditching the mower and embracing a natural yard. Several mental health professionals agreed that lively, unmanicured spaces can foster mindfulness and well-being. "Being in a green, natural environment can promote mindfulness and a sense of calm," Greg Adelstein, a licensed mental health counselor and owner of Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Hollywood, Florida, told Fox News Digital. "It also provides a sense of accomplishment and purpose, which can boost self-esteem." Letting nature reclaim the yard could also mean fewer chemicals and health hazards, some experts say. Fox News Digital previously reported on a study that linked exposure to nature with a reduction in people's experience of pain. This suggests the potential health benefits of a more natural lawn that promotes everyday access to wild plants and animals. "Gardening promotes mindfulness and can lower cortisol levels, helping you feel calmer." Natural lawns and gardens can also help combat loneliness by encouraging community engagement through shared gardening or conservation efforts, according to Elena Saldamando, a licensed clinical social worker and director of Ellie Mental Health Clinic in Avalon Park, Florida. Despite the potential risks, tending to a lawn can present some benefits when done safely, experts say. "Gardening promotes mindfulness and can lower cortisol levels, helping you feel calmer," Saldamando told Fox News Digital. "Watching how the light hits a leaf, listening to birds chirp, feeling soil and dirt in your hands, smelling the flowers and seeing vegetables grow can be very grounding." To reduce the physical strain of mowing and other yard work, Policastro recommended taking regular breaks, using ergonomic tools and maintaining proper posture. For more Health articles, visit It's also important to work in a well-ventilated area and to wear a mask or respirator when handling dusty materials or applying chemicals, according to the doctor.
San Francisco Chronicle
22-05-2025
- General
- San Francisco Chronicle
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to 'Let It Bloom June' and the fall version: 'Leave the leaves.' Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. When Amanda Beltranmini Healen moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing. Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact, a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30 percent of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA. Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at the University of Iowa, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking non-invasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Beltranmini Healen isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time "to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
Hamilton Spectator
22-05-2025
- General
- Hamilton Spectator
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to 'Let It Bloom June' and the fall version: 'Leave the leaves.' Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes. When Amanda Beltranmini Healen moved into her Nashville ranch house in 2016, the yard had been manicured for sale: a walnut tree, roses from a home improvement store and short grass. So she experimented, first with a 10-by-10-foot patch where she dug up the grass and sowed native seeds. Then she planted goldenrods in the culvert near the street, and let more of her yard grow tall without mowing. Local authorities apparently didn't appreciate her natural look: 'I got a letter from the city saying that I had to mow it,' she said. But then, a friend told her about No Mow Month signs, provided by the Cumberland River Compact , a local water conservation nonprofit. Soon she was signaling to the city that she's no derelict, but a participant in an international movement. These days, every month is No Mow May in parts of her property. While she keeps the growth shorter near the culvert and street, her backyard is filled with native grasses and plants up to her knees or waist. There's a decomposing tree trunk where scores of skinks and bugs live, birds nest under her carport and she regularly finds fawns sleeping in the safety of the high grasses. 'I have a lot of insects and bugs and that's protein, so the birds and the bird's nests are everywhere. Cardinals and wrens and cowbirds and robins,' she said. 'I wake up to them, especially during spring migration right now. It's just a cacophony in the morning and in the evening, especially when the mulberries come in.' The movement is popularized by groups such as Plantlife , a conservation organization based in England. American lawns, based on English and French traditions, are increasingly seen as a wasteful monoculture that encourages an overuse of pesticides, fertilizer and water. Outdoor spraying and irrigation account for over 30 percent of a U.S. household's total water consumption, and can be twice that in drier climates, according to the EPA . Some criticize No Mow campaigns as a fad that could invite invasive plants to spread unchecked without helping pollinators much, if only done for a month. A guide outlining No Mow pros, cons and limitations, written by consumer horticulture extension specialist Aaron Steil at the University of Iowa, says reducing mowing to every two weeks and replacing turf with plants that pollinate all year long can offer more benefits without risking a citation or complaints. The No Mow effort does encourage people to think more about biodiversity in their yards, and many local nature organizations advise provide guidance on picking non-invasive plants that fit each region's climate and precipitation levels. Reducing mowing encourages longer-rooted native grasses and flowers to grow, which breaks up compacted soil and improves drainage, 'meaning that when it rains, more water is going to be captured and stored in lawns versus being generated as a runoff and entering into our stormwater system,' said Jason Sprouls, urban waters program manager for the Cumberland River Compact. Beltranmini Healen isn't just letting just anything grow — she learned which plants are invasive, non-native or not beneficial to the ecosystem and carefully prunes and weeds so the keepers have room to thrive. Nashville homeowner Brandon Griffith said he was just tired of mowing when he decided years ago wait and see what comes up. Then he consciously added flowering plants to attract bees and bugs. Now he sees so many insects and pollinators all over his garden that the neighbors' kids come over to look for butterflies. It's about giving them the time 'to come out of their larva or their egg stage and be able to grow,' said Griffith. He said he's never heard a complaint — in fact, some of his neighbors also stopped mowing for a month each spring. His four-year-old son catches lizards, digs for worms and hunts for bugs in the yard. 'I just enjoy coming out and walking around,' said Griffith. 'And looking at it, it's kind of peaceful. It's kinda relaxing.'
Toronto Star
22-05-2025
- General
- Toronto Star
Bored with manicured lawns, some homeowners adopt No Mow May all year long
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — No Mow May encourages homeowners to stash the lawnmower each spring and let flowers and grass grow for pollinators and water retention. And if your neighbor's lawn already looks like a wildflower field most of the time, it could be more intentional than passersby might assume. The movement has expanded to 'Let It Bloom June' and the fall version: 'Leave the leaves.' Conservation and horticulture groups say year-round low-mowing while selectively leaving native plants to grow can save huge amounts of drinking water and lead to lasting and impactful ecological changes.
