What is No Mow May?
No Mow May is a community science initiative popularized in recent years that encourages property owners to limit their lawn mowing practices during the month of May. The goal of No Mow May is to provide early season foraging resources for pollinators that emerge in the spring, especially in urban landscapes when few floral resources are available.
Why is it important?
The objective of No Mow May is to realize the following benefits in our community: benefitting pollinators, increasing bee abundance and diversity, reducing mowing frequency which saves water and reduces cost, emissions, and noise from gas-powered lawn equipment.
Exploring No Mow May as a pilot in 2022 will also assist Sun Prairie in meetings its commitments to the Mayor's Monarch Pledge, consider committing to becoming a Bee City USA, and following in the footsteps of other Wisconsin communities such as Appleton, who have successfully implemented No Mow May.
How will this pilot work, and how do I participate?
On March 29, 2022, the City Council passed a resolution suspending the noxious weed ordinance for residential and some commercial properties in the month of May, provided properties sign up to participate.
For the month of May, properties interested in participating in this voluntary pilot project can sign up through this online form. Once registered, residents can participate by reducing their mowing frequency or eliminating mowing entirely during the month of May, which is an important time for pollinator activity.
If you are the member of a Homeowners Association, reach out to your organization to see if No Mow May is allowed, or if you association is interested in participating.
Public Works has an existing scheduled yard waste pick-up on 5/23, and residents are encouraged to use this pick-up for their increased volume of lawn clippings. Other disposal options include dropping off yard waste at the Sun Prairie Recycling Center, or consider leaving the grass clippings on your yard to decompose and return nutrients to the soil.
For additional ways to support our pollinators, check out these resources: Pollinator Protection in Dane County & Celebrate Arbor Day with DNR
Those who sign up to participate will receive a free No Mow May yard sign while supplies last.
What do I do if I have questions or concerns?
This pilot is a collaboration across several city departments (Administration, Parks, Recreation & Forestry, Building Inspection, Public Works). Questions can be submitted via this online form so that it can be efficiently directed to the relevant department.