No Mow May

supporting our native pollinators through restoring habitat

Why Letting Your Lawn Grow in May is Beneficial to Native Pollinators

Many native bees, butterflies and moths are in decline and their losses threaten Wisconsin’s  wildflowers, ecosystems, agricultural crops and natural areas, which depend upon them. Conserving and improving habitats for pollinators is important for ensuring continued pollination services and our food security. In Wisconsin, crops such as apple, cranberry, cherry, green beans, cucumbers and other fruits and vegetables depend on pollinators. Honey and beeswax are also important products made in Wisconsin.

The idea with No Mow May is to designate a portion, or all of your lawn as a pollinator friendly habitat by not mowing or applying any lawn chemicals during the month of May. This will allow common flowering plants like dandelion, clover, creeping Charlie, and violet to provide food for hungry pollinators, when many other flowers are not yet in bloom. This is especially important in urban landscapes that do not border open land. At least one study has shown that unmown yards in the city have a fivefold increase in the number of bees present.

No Mow May is voluntary. You can opt to leave the mower in the garage for the month, mow less frequently, or just leave part of your lawn unmown. It’s up to you. 

Talk with your family, friends, neighbors, faith community, and school- and encourage them to join No Mow May. Let’s show Chippewa Valley pollinators we’re here for them. 

To accommodate No Mow May, the City of Eau Claire has changed their lawn ordinance, delaying enforcement until June 1. See more here.

If you live outside of the Eau Claire City limits please check with your governmental entity on their lawn ordinance policies.

Make Your Yard a Pollinator Friendly Habitat

No Mow May is just the beginning of helping our pollinators– the long-term goal is to consider the many options available to make your yard a pollinator friendly habitat. Learn more here.

Come get your No Mow May yard sign:

Share your support, and provide pollinator resources to your neighbor by putting up a NO MOW MAY yard sign available:

  • April 20, 5:30-7:30 pm- JONAH Earth Day at The Brewer’s Projekt, No Mow May Table
  • May 6, 10-12am– Eau Claire Farmer’s Market No Mow May Table
  • May 13, 10-12am– Eau Claire Farmer’s Market No Mow May Table

Citizen Scientists:

Want to participate in measuring the effectiveness of No Mow May? Learn more here. 

Calendar:

NO MOW MAY/POLLINATOR Activities

  • April 20 5-8pm Earth Day at the Brewing Project 
  • Native Pollinator Student and Community Art Contest Virtual Show with Awards. Click here to see the PDF of the show (warning: very large file)
  • May 6th, 2023 2:30-4 pm, L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library, Riverview Room (Room 306): “Made for One Another: Native Pollinators and Native Plants”. Entomologist, Arthur Kneeland, MS, UW Stout, talks about the relationship of Native Plants Native Pollinators and offers concrete steps to bring nature home.
  • May 15 – Read all about them! Check out the Pollinator Book Table at the L.E. Phillips Memorial Library Main Entrance
  • May 20 1-3, Forest Street Garden Pavillion, Eau Claire Parks and Rec–Youth Citizen Science Training. Reservations appreciated! (click here)
  • May 21 – Plant Sale hosted by Eau Claire Area Master Gardeners
  • June 3 – Considering moving away from turf lawn? Come learn more at the Alternative Lawn Tour hosted by the Chippewa Valley Sierra Club (registration required)
  • July 22 9-4 pm – Gardens in Bloom Tour hosted by the Eau Claire Garden Club. Stroll through 8 beautiful, unique gardens in the Eau Claire area. Garden art, education, and plant sale. Tickets available at EC Festival Foods.

Who We Are: Chippewa Valley Pollinator Partnership is a collaboration of many organizations within Eau Claire and beyond working to support our pollinators, including JONAH, Beaver Creek Reserve, the CV Sierra Club, EC Master Gardeners, the EC Garden Club, EC County Sustainability Coordinator, EC City Sustainability Advisory Board, Wisconsin Natural Resources Conservation Service Pollinator Liaison, the National Pollinator Partnership- and others. 

This work has been made possible by a generous Pablo Foundation grant.