No Mow May Returns to Pugwash
Keep your lawn mower in the shed as long as you can during the month of May!
Last year Pugwash and area participated in No Mow May for the first time. The aim was to help wild pollinators and other wildlife in the green spaces where we live, to give them enough time to warm up and start about their vital business, and to support biodiversity.
Thirty-four households and organizations participated, including the village. Some did not mow at all. Some chose to designate a section of their property that they let go wild.
We all realised pretty quickly that grass grows really fast and furious in May!
This spring, Pugwash Communities in Bloom is again encouraging residents, organizations, and businesses to join our No Mow May movement in anyway that suits your comfort level and way of life.
Even if you held off mowing until the middle of May when temperatures are consistently above 10 degrees, it would be immensely helpful to our environment.
We still have a limited number of No Mow May lawn signs. If you would like one to help promote this initiative, contact norene48@gmail.com for more information.
Five reasons to join the No Mow May movement:
- Encourage biodiversity, wild plants, and pollinators. Re-wilding gardens and flowerbeds will allow the return of insects and foraging pollinators to find shelter and food so that they don’t starve before the summer season gets underway.
- Reduce unwanted or invasive weeds. Lawns that are mowed more frequently have less plant diversity, while the presence of pests and invasive species like dandelions, goes up. A longer, healthier lawn makes it more resistant to pests, weeds, and drought events.
- Saving your time, money and conserving resources. Lawn care is a $3 billion business in Canada and consumes astronomical amounts of water, pesticides, and more than 150 million litres of gasoline annually.
- Rethinking how you mow. If you are compelled to mow, delay the first spring mow as long as possible, mowing less often and mowing slowly to allow insects, frogs, and other wildlife to move out of the way. Practice “rotational mowing” to allow some patches of grass to support flowering plants.
- Maintain your garden naturally. Tall grasses retain moisture better. Consider mowing part of your lawn, leaving some sections. Leave the clippings on the ground (mulch), which will fertilise it naturally. Planting or growing fabaceous plants, such as white clover, will provide the necessary nitrogen, while leaving dead leaves in the fall will make your soil rich with carbon. These are all essential elements for a healthy, living green space.
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