HomeMy WebLinkAbout05.03.24 AttachmentNO MOW MAY 2024:
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Where do I register for No Mow May?
Property owners can register through a link on the city’s website in the “Hot Topics” section or
on the Sustainable Oshkosh webpage, or by using the “Connect Oshkosh” app for mobile
devices.
Is No Mow May mandatory if I live in the City of Oshkosh?
No. No Mow May is a voluntary program during the month of May.
Will the City have yard signs this year?
No. The City will not be providing No Mow May yard signs for 2024.
Why should I participate in No Mow May?
No Mow May is an initiative that encourages residents to decrease mowing during the month
of May for lawns that have low flowering plants co-mingled with turf. The flowers provide an
early food source for bees.
Why is there an emphasis on bees and pollinators now?
There are about 500 bee species in Wisconsin and one local bee species is endangered!
Consider improving your lawn care practices and yard plantings to save the Monarch butterfly
and Rusty Patched Bumble Bee.
Did you know that nearly ¾ of the world’s flowering plants and about 35% of the world’s food
crops depend on pollinators to reproduce? That is one out of every three bites of food you eat!
Do pollinators really benefit from my unmowed lawn for one month?
It depends! Lawns that consist of solely turfgrass provide few resources for early-season
pollinators. However, lawns that contain low blooming plants like violets, clover, and even
Creeping Charlie can provide nectar and pollen to bees in spring.
At the end of No Mow May, when do I need to cut my lawn before enforcement
of tall grass ordinances goes into effect?
Please resume mowing your lawn June 1st. Enforcement will begin starting Monday, June 3rd.
You can view City of Oshkosh Municipal Code 17-36(B) and 17-44 Weed Cutting and Lawn Care
online. REMEMBER: Mow high the first few times.
Are there other ways to help pollinators?
Yes! No Mow May is just the beginning. There are a number of things you can do to help our
native pollinators and make your yard more colorful, too.
o Pollinators need food throughout Wisconsin’s entire growing season, so adding native
shrubs and perennial plants into your landscape can help threatened Monarch
butterflies, bees and other pollinators all summer.
o Select perennials that bloom in each month of the growing season, including early fall
asters, to help provide continuity of pollinator food sources.
o Reduce the use of broadleaf herbicide applications on your lawn when encouraging
those early season plants for pollinators.
o Keeping your lawn at 3” all season allows bee-plants to grow, but your lawn will also
stay greener in the hot part of summer with less watering at that height; a best practice
for turfgrass.
o Consider reducing the size of your lawn areas that don’t receive much foot traffic and
plant native shrubs and perennials. Once those plants get established, they are less
work than mowing!
Interested in learning more? Check out these resources:
Learn more about Wisconsin's Native Pollinators
For a more in-depth look on bringing back Our Pollinators
Check out the City’s Native Planting Requirements
How do I create a pollinator friendly yard or garden?
The importance of pollinators
Hang out with likeminded individuals in your area!
Looking for more information on No Mow May?
I want to help native pollinators, but where can I start?
Planting for Pollinators Guide
Looking for more bee lawn resources? Check this out!
The City of Oshkosh’s Grass Cutting Requirements