No Mow May: Let your lawn grow and help the pollinators

The City of Westmount is encouraging residents to not mow their lawns this May. Let your grass grow, as well as the flowers we sometimes refer to as weeds, like dandelions and white clover. No Mow May helps pollinators by allowing early season flowers to grow in our lawns, parks and greenspaces. This means more bees will have a chance to fuel up on nectar in the spring and take shelter in the shady grass without mower blades chopping up their food and habitat.

In a time when bee populations are on the decline, studies show that homes that don’t mow in May have three times more bee species and five times more bees compared to yards that are mowed. This is important as bees are essential to the reproductive process of many fruits, flowers and plants… including much of the food we eat!

There are other ways to support pollinators throughout the warm season:

• Mow your lawn less frequently.
• Leave grass clippings to add natural nutrients back into the soil.
• Raise the height of your mower blades to 4” to protect insect habitats.
• Plant native perennials or white clover instead of grass for a more eco-responsible lawn.

These small changes in lawn care can also help reduce the amount of water needed to keep lawns lush during heat spells. It’s a win-win!

To learn more about what Westmount is doing to help pollinators such as bees and butterflies, discover the Mayor’s Monarch Pledge, where you will also find more information on how you can help.