Does 'No Mow May' actually help pollinators? How can you participate? Here's what to know
If you live in Milwaukee, you can leave your lawnmower parked away until June and aid in providing a healthy habitat for pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and other insects.
Over the past four years, No Mow May — in which homeowners opt not cut their lawn during the month — has increased in popularity across Wisconsin. More than 20 municipalities in Wisconsin have adopted No Mow May, including Appleton, Stevens Point, Oshkosh, Green Bay, Wisconsin Rapids and La Crosse.
A number of Milwaukee's suburbs have also adopted No Mow May, including Fox Point, Glendale, Whitefish Bay, Shorewood, Wauwatosa, Greenfield, Greendale and Cudahy.
What is No Mow May?
No Mow May is a campaign that encourages people to refrain from mowing their lawns during May. Cutting grass destroys wildflowers and plants, which provide a source of nectar and pollen to pollinators, according to some experts.
How to participate in No Mow May in Milwaukee
All participants in Milwaukee must register for No Mow May prior to a complaint being submitted to the property.
Participants will not be fined for any tall grass or weed violations during the month of May, but you'll need to cut any tall grass by Monday, June 3. Any properties in Milwaukee that are still in violation after June 3 will be referred to a City contractor, and the property owner could face fines. Participation in No Mow May is voluntary.
How to register for No Mow May in Milwaukee
You can register for No Mow May online here by searching "No Mow May Registration."
Where can I get a yard sign? Can you reuse your No Mow May yard sign from last year?
You can pick up a free yard sign at Milwaukee Forestry's State Street office located at 5230 W State Street. There are 150 free yard signs available, first come first serve. You can contact the office at 414-286-3594.
If you received a free yard sign last year, you can reuse the sign again this year.
Do pollinators actually benefit from an unmowed lawn?
Sometimes. It depends on the lawn, according to experts from the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Lawns with turfgrass don't provide as many resources for pollinators compared with a yard containing an abundance of low-growing flowering plants. Adding more flowering plants, shrubs and trees to your yard can increase benefits to pollinators.
Reducing or eliminating any pesticides in your yard will also benefit pollinators, according to UW-Madison.
Some municipalities, like the Village of Fox Crossing, have opted out of the No Mow May after researchers from Lawrence University retracted their study in 2022. Researchers have claimed that any issues with the data in the study did not impact the overall conclusion that No Mow May does benefits pollinators.
Does No Mow May increase risk of ticks?
Ticks do prefer to live in overgrown areas, especially in tall grass and overgrown vegetation. If you're concerned about ticks jumping on to you, you can make sure to keep the areas next to paths or walking areas mown short, according to Bee City.
How should I cut my lawn after No Mow May is over?
Make sure to adjust your mower to the highest setting and make the first pass to reduce the grass height. Continue to reduce the height of the blade before making a second pass. You shouldn't cut more than a third of the grass blade at a time in a single mowing to help prevent root stress.
When you're cutting the grass, don't mow or blow grass clippings into the street. Grass and leaves can travel with rainwater into the City storm water sewers, which can flow directly into local rivers without pretreatment.
For more information
For more information, visit the the Milwaukee Department of Public Works website here.
RELATED: No mow May is a good time for Wisconsin homeowners to consider groundcover plants
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: How to participate in No Mow May in Milwaukee 2024
