Agriculture
No mowing lawns in May could help the bees in the La Crosse area
The city of La Crosse is encouraging homeowners to not mow their lawn through May.
The project is called “No Mow May.” It’s a way to allow plant growth coming out of winter for pollinators, who won’t have a lot of options to feed. Dandelions are some of the earliest flowers to bloom and important to those pollinators.
Parks Department staffer Tracy Rudi said Appleton, Wis., tried the project last year and saw a sharp increase in the bee population.
People are encouraged to register and to put up lawn signs during May, showing that they have a reason not to cut the grass.
The lawns, of course, will have to be mowed again early in June, to comply with city rules.