Why Wild Yards Are Welcome in Illinois and Wisconsin Next Month

More towns and cities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin are jumping on the "no mow" bandwagon this Spring, and once you know the reason why, you might want to jump on it too!

3 Kinds of Lawn Mowing People

The way I see it there are 3 kinds of lawnmowers that emerge each Spring;

1. The kind that loves the smell of fresh cut grass, can't wait to fire up the lawnmower for the first time, and gets sad when mowing season is over.
2. The kind that dreads even getting the mower out of storage and hates the sounds and smells of other people mowing.
3. The kind that loves and is anal about the look of a freshly cut lawn, but will spend the next 3+ months complaining about having to mow the lawn. (this is 100 percent my husband).

It doesn't matter which kind of lawn mowing person you may be, here's one good reason you should consider waiting to fire up the mower until June this year...

The 'No Mow May' Movement

In the last several years more towns and cities throughout Illinois and Wisconsin have started to encourage homeowners to ditch their mowers for the month of May, and the reason why is simple; to create a safe environment for pollinating insects, especially bees.

According to Bee City USA;

The start of the growing season is a critical time for hungry, newly emerged native bees. Floral resources may be hard to find, especially in urban and suburban landscapes. By allowing it to grow longer, and letting flowers bloom, your lawn can provide nectar and pollen to help your bee neighbors thrive.

How to Participate in No Mow May

If ditching your mower until June sounds like an awesome plan, I must warn you that the rules for the movement may vary depending on where you live.

For instance, the city of Beloit, Wisconsin just joined the No Mow May movement for 2024 and requires homeowners to signup and place a sign in their yard to participate, and they can let their grass grow longer than 12 inches.

Before you start letting your yard go wild this Spring, check with your city/town/village officials to see what the ordinances are if you don't want to get fined!

So will you let your grass grow wild this May? If the picture above is just to much for you to comprehend, skipping a mow or two can still help our buzzing friends thrive this Spring!

READ MORE: One Important Thing to Do Before Firing Up the Lawnmower This Spring