No Mow May is an environmental campaign that encourages people to refrain from mowing their lawns during the month of May. The aim of the campaign is to promote biodiversity and provide a habitat for pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other insects.
During the month of May, many wildflowers are in bloom, providing a vital source of nectar and pollen for pollinators. By allowing these flowers to grow and avoiding mowing the lawn, people can help to provide a much-needed refuge for these important pollinator species.
How It Works
Participants in No Mow May will not be fined for any tall grass/weed violations during the month of May. All properties participating in No Mow May will be required to correct any tall grass/weed violations by Monday, June 3rd. Any properties that are still in violation after June 3rd will be referred to a City contractor and the property owner will be charged accordingly. Please be advised that any lawns that are not mowed during the month of May will grow very tall (12”-18”). Most homeowner push mowers will struggle to cut grass that tall, so be prepared to take extra time during the first cut in June.
All participants must register for No Mow May prior to a complaint being submitted for a property.
150 Free Yard Signs will be available for pickup at Milwaukee Forestry's State Street office:
5230 W State Street
414-286-3594
Monday-Friday 7:30AM-2:30PM
Signs are first come, first serve and one per property owner.
If you recieved a free yard sign last year, please reuse your sign and allow someone else to get a sign this year.
Or print a sign for your window.
Mowing Tips
Tips for mowing long grass at the conclusion of No Mow May and 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 reducing 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 really 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 make a positive impact on the environment, and to help support the vital ecosystem services provided by pollinators.