Wildflower meadow

The cost of a beautiful, healthy garden, filled with verdant grass, is surprisingly steep – as gardeners well know.

There are the bugs to contend with, then the weather, then the surprisingly complex question of when (and how much) to mow.

On that last question, though, institutions like the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) say some gardeners might be able to take it easy for the next few weeks.

No-mow May, a month in which people are encouraged to leave their grass well alone (helping wildlife and the growth of wild flowers in the process) has been employed by everyone from gardening legend Monty Don to multiple councils.

But what is no-mow May, and why should you wait so late to rev your mower back up?