For the first time, the City of Golden Valley is encouraging residents to participate in No-Mow May. The initiative allows property owners to refrain from mowing lawns through the month of May to allow ground-nesting pollinators, including a variety of bee species, to wake from hibernation.
With the initiative comes a few sets of rules for participants. These include:
- registering for free on the City website to differentiate from neglectful property
- not allowing the growth of noxious or invasive weeds, like buckthorn or garlic mustard
- mowing lawns by the end of May, as City staff will resume property maintenance code enforcement June 1
For more information about noxious weeds and the No-Mow May initiative, and to register your property, visit the City website.
No-Mow May Tips
Since No-Mow May is a new concept to many Golden Valley residents, the Golden Valley Garden Club offers the following tips for first-timers.
- Aside from not mowing, it’s also recommended to not use fertilizers, pesticides, or other chemicals harmful to pollinators.
- Be a good neighbor and harvest or mow dandelion flowers before they go to seed.
- You don’t have to try No-Mow May on your entire lawn. Stick to the backyard, sideyard, or whatever your preference. Any bit helps.
- If your grass gets too long but you still want to participate, it’s best to mow no more than one-third of the length off at a time.
For more pollinator-friendly tips, and to learn more about the Golden Valley Garden Club, visit gvgardenclub.com.