City of Marshfield Encourages Residents to Participate in No Mow May

Thursday, April 18th, 2024 -- 2:01 PM

Did you know you don't have to mow your lawn in May if you live within the city limits of Marshfield?

That's right; No Mow May is an initiative that encourages gardeners and homeowners to let their lawns grow wild in the interest of biodiversity and supporting important pollinator populations. Many wildflowers bloom during May, providing a vital source of nectar and pollen for pollinators.

By allowing these flowers to grow and avoiding mowing the lawn, people can help provide a much-needed refuge for these important pollinator species. So, to aid pollination, the City of Marshfield is suspending the enforcement of Chapter 11 Sec. 11-06 (Weed Control) encourages those interested in participating to sign up online.

Signing up provides the City with a list of properties supporting the No Mow May initiative. The enforcement of Chapter 11 Sec. 11-06. (Weed Control)  will begin again on June 1, 2024. (Sign up here.)

Mowing tips after No Mow May in promoting a healthy lawn: Adjust your mower to the highest setting and make the first pass to reduce the grass height. After you have reduced the grass height to a more manageable length, change the mower setting by lowering the height of the blade before making a second pass.

Do not cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade at a time in a single mowing. For example, if your grass is 6 inches tall, do not remove more than 2 inches of length. This helps prevent root stress and promotes turf vigor.

If your grass is tall, try mowing once during the last week of May and then again before June 4th to avoid stressing your turf grass. Reminder: Do not mow or blow grass clippings into the street. Grass and leaves in the street can travel with rainwater into the City stormwater sewers.

Many stormwater facilities flow directly into our local rivers without pretreatment, and the added nutrients can cause algal blooms and other detrimental effects. Debris in the street can also be dangerous for drivers, especially motorcycles and bicycles.

Overall, No Mow May is a simple yet effective way for people to positively impact the environment and help support the vital ecosystem services provided by pollinators.

Feel free to contact us with questions and/or comments.