Annual 'No Mow May' Challenge

2023 No Mow May Challenge

Register now to take part in the Municipality of the District of Lunenburg's (MODL) 2023 No Mow May Challenge, and you could win!
In 2022, total 38 residents participated in the challenge. In 2023, we have a goal to register 80 residents for the challenge. If we reach our goal, we will draw two gift cards of $100 each instead of one. This year please educate your neighbors understand why you're not mowing your greenspaces and letting the flowers bloom, and encourage them to participate in the challenge themselves.

How can you take part in 2023 No Mow May Challenge?

• Register for No Mow May Challenge by signing the Pledge below (provide your email address to be entered into the draw for a $100 gift card to a local garden center).
• Leave your mower in the shed from May 1 to 31.
• At the end of the month, click a picture of your unmown greenspace and upload it to the share your pictures here section below.

What can you do after May?

• As you go back to mowing your greenspaces, choose to decrease your mowing frequency and mow only once or twice per month.
• When you mow, put your mower at the highest setting. This allows low lying flowers to continue to grow and decreases re-flower time for those that are mown.
• If you can, allow a section of your lawn to remain uncut all summer long.
  
  

What is 'No Mow May' challenge?

'No Mow May' challenge is a movement that asks everyone to pause mowing their lawns or greenspaces for the month of May to protect pollinators such as bees, butterflies, hummingbirds, and other wildlife in the greenspaces.

What is pollination and what are pollinators?

Pollination is an essential part of plant reproduction where pollen from a flower’s stamen (male flower part) drops onto a pollinator such as a bee or a butterfly. The pollinator then takes this pollen and drop it onto same or another flower’s stigma (female flower part). The fertilized flowers then yield fruits or vegetables that we eat.

source: https://www.gardeners.com/

Which food is dependent on pollination?

One in three bites of food you eat depends on pollinators. Foods that are dependent on pollination include coffee, almonds, oranges, avocados, plums, cherries, tomatoes, strawberries, grapes, eggplants, limes, lemons, kumquats, kiwi, pumpkin, cucumber, zucchini, and many more.

How can by not mowing your lawn for the month of May protect pollinators and other wildlife?

Unmown lawns or greenspaces allow flowers, including dandelions, to bloom which provide pollinators and other wildlife with food and a much-needed home in spring.

source: https://www.buncombemastergardener.org/

How is MODL taking part in the No-Mow May challenge?

In 2023, MODL pledged to protect the biodiversity by not mowing the following four parks and facilities during the month of May: Miller Point Peace Park, Church Lake Access Site, Mushamush Beach Park, and Wile’s Lake Park

In 2022, MODL pledged to protect the biodiversity by not mowing the following five parks and facilities during the month of May: Miller Point Peace Park, Church Lake Access Site, Indian Falls, Mushamush Beach Park, and Wile’s Lake Park.

How often should you mow your lawns or green spaces?

It is recommended to mow less – ideally only once every month, to allow the maximum number of flowers to grow in your lawn that can significantly improve habitat for pollinators. It is also recommended to leave a patch or two unmown where possible to allow grass to grow longer.

What if you cannot avoid mowing?

If you are unable to avoid mowing in May, you can also try practicing 'rotational mowing'. Rotational mowing means to leave some areas or a patch of your lawn unmown. This can help in preserving habitat while creating pathways to move around the greenspaces. Depending on your lawn, you can mow in blocks, strips, patches, or random patterns, as per your convenience. With rotational mowing, areas or patches that are mowed this year can be left unmown the next year, and vice versa.