Let It Grow! The Benefits of Letting Gardens Go Wild

//Summary - Level-B2//

The “No Mow May” movement in the UK encourages people to stop cutting their grass to support wildlife, fight pollution, and store carbon in the soil. Wild gardens with longer grass and wildflowers are better for the environment and need less effort. For those wanting more impact, “meadowscaping” creates natural meadows with wildflowers, which attracts climate-conscious people. Although meadows need some care, like removing tough weeds, they help nature. Signs can inform neighbours that wild gardens are intentional. This eco-friendly gardening trend is growing in popularity, especially among young people.

//Vocabulary//

Mow: moʊ: to cut grass using a machine
I have to mow the lawn once a week in summer.

lawn: lɔn: an area of short grass that is cut regularly
Mowing the lawn is my least favorite chore.

campaign: kæmˈpeɪn: a planned series of activities intended to achieve a particular goal
The goal of the campaign is to help break down negative attitudes around mental health.

untamed: ˌʌnˈteɪmd: left wild and uncontrolled
Australia's Kakadu National Park is famous for its untamed natural beauty.

meadow: ˈmedəʊ: an area of land mostly covered with grass
In spring, the meadows are full of wildflowers.

Weed: wiːd: a plant growing in a place it is not wanted, especially in a garden
It took us all weekend to pull all the weeds out of the garden.

//Article//

Let It Grow! The Benefits of Letting Gardens Go Wild

1)
The UK's weather was quite pleasant at the start of May. The sun even came out! And with the sun, many people stepped into their gardens to cut the grass.

2)
However, there's a movement growing almost as fast as the British grass: "No Mow May."

The idea is to encourage people to put away their lawn mowers and let their grass grow.

3)
According to Plantlife, the British organization that runs the annual campaign, a healthy garden "with some longer grass and wildflowers helps to tackle pollution, benefits wildlife and can even lock away carbon below the ground."

4)
Long grass and wildflowers are perhaps not what people imagine when they think of British gardens. And it's true that some homeowners would find it difficult to look at an untamed garden.

5)
But for others, it's an easy way to do something for the environment — because it requires no effort at all!

6)
However, those who want to take things a step further may try "meadowscaping" — turning a short-cut lawn into something resembling a meadow.

This takes a little more work. But according to the BBC, it's becoming more popular, including among younger, climate-conscious people.

7)
Unlike simply not mowing, meadowscaping often means removing all of the grass you have — as well as the weeds — and preparing the soil for more natural types of plants.

Stores now often sell mixtures of wildflower seeds that will make your garden look like a natural — and colourful — meadow, with both grasses and flowers.

8)
The UK's Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) suggests leaving the soil to settle for four to six weeks before weeding again. Then you can start planting.

Garden meadows do still need attention, however. The RHS says that while some weeds can stay, tougher ones will need to be removed, and many people will still trim the grass to make sure it doesn't get too long.

9)
If you're worried about what your neighbours might think, some people put up signs to let others know their garden is supposed to look like this!

//Discussion//

1. What are your thoughts on "No Mow May"?
2. Do you find it surprising that wild gardens are better for the environment?
3. If you had a lawn, would you consider letting it grow wild?
4. How would you feel if your neighbours had untamed lawns or gardens?
5. What do you imagine when you think of British gardens?

//Further Discussion//

6. Do you have a garden? If so, what kinds of plants does it have? If not, do you have any indoor plants?
7. Who among your friends or family has the nicest garden?
8. What kind of outdoor space would your dream home have?
9. Are there any public gardens in your town or city? Do you often visit them?
10. How often do you spend time out in nature?

//Discussion//

1. What are your thoughts on "No Mow May"?

That sounds like a great idea. If possible, a more natural state is preferable to artificial grass.
However, it isn't easy to have a completely natural garden.
So, while it is close to nature, some maintenance work is necessary to keep it that way.

2. Do you find it surprising that wild gardens are better for the environment?

No, it's not surprising. Many artificial things can be bad for the environment.
However, as long as humans are involved, it is difficult to maintain a completely natural state.

3. If you had a lawn, would you consider letting it grow wild?

A natural-looking garden is more beautiful and comfortable than an artificial lawn.

4. How would you feel if your neighbours had untamed lawns or gardens?

It depends on the situation.
If it looks unkempt, but there are no weeds, or it doesn't look unpleasant, then there's no problem.

However, if old bicycles are tangled up and dirty, or the grass has died and spread onto other private property, causing a nuisance, and it is left as it is, I think it should be maintained.

5. What do you imagine when you think of British gardens?

I imagine natural gardens and rose gardens.
They are not symmetrical like French gardens, but natural beauty exists.

I feel that there is something in common with the beauty of Japanese gardens. Japanese gardens also look natural, but they require a lot of careful maintenance.

//Further Discussion//

6. Do you have a garden? If so, what kinds of plants does it have? If not, do you have any indoor plants?

Yes, I have a garden.
My father-in-law lived in this house, so there are about 10 potted plants he owned, as well as maple leaves and bamboo plants in the ground.

Then, the other day, when my husband and I went to a nearby rose garden, we decided to have three mini rose pots.

7. Who among your friends or family has the nicest garden?

Yes, my aunt's garden in Nagasaki is charming.
The large garden is beautiful and has many Japanese flowers such as lilies and peonies.

8. What kind of outdoor space would your dream home have?

In the future, I would like to grow not only roses, but also vegetables.
I have grown summer vegetables such as tomatoes and eggplants on the balcony.
I would also like to grow potatoes and other tubers.

9. Are there any public gardens in your town or city? Do you often visit them?

I usually go to Sumida Park along the nearby Sumida River, where Ushijima Shrine and the botanical garden, Hyakukaen, are also located.

The other day, I also went to Keisei Rose Garden, a botanical garden specialising in roses.
My husband and I often go to parks and gardens after shopping.

10. How often do you spend time out in nature?

I shop and have lunch at a park or shrine almost every weekend.

On my way home from work, there are cherry trees along the road and azaleas blooming on the road, so that I can see some plants every day.

Let It Grow! The Benefits of Letting Gardens Go Wild

https://engoo.com/app/daily-news/article/let-it-grow-the-benefits-of-letting-gardens-go-wild/SSs9MC9NEfC-QEPsau_RgA

Add info No1)

'Meadowscaping': The people turning their lawns into meadows

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20250425-meadowscaping-the-people-turning-their-garden-lawns-into-wild-meadows

"Meadowscaping", or turning a traditional lawn into a meadow, is a burgeoning trend experts in the field are noticing, especially among younger generations who tend to be more climate-aware than their predecessors. Compared to lawns, meadows – open landscapes filled with an array of non-woody plants such as tall grasses, flowers and herbs – are less expensive to maintain, require less water and energy and help sequester more CO2. Most importantly, they also encourage biodiversity and they're typically more appealing to pollinators, which are keystone species on which ecosystems depend.

What is Meadowscaping?

https://noahsproperties.com/what-is-meadowscaping/

An ecological movement known as “meadowscaping” has gained traction worldwide in recent years. Challenging conventional landscaping practices that typically prioritise manicured lawns and non-native plants, meadowscaping seeks to restore natural biodiversity, conserve water, and support local ecosystems. Whether or not it is the right choice for you and your property, meadowscaping is a fascinating, beautiful, and eco-friendly trend taking over neighbourhoods across the country.

Add info No2)

Add info No3)

Keisei Rose Garden Spring 2025. A place where roses reveal their true colours.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_fJZ49ncx8

Keisei Rose Garden 2025 Spring Rose Bloom Status

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfOKPp9eqq4