The City of Cornwall waived section 3 of its Yard Maintenance By-Law 2013-212, as amended, for the month of May which allows residents to grow out their lawn longer than the usual set limit.

The City’s By-Law Services recognizes the ecological importance of No Mow May and offer an opportunity for residents to reconsider their yard maintenance practices during the month of May. The City continues to become a more sustainable city, recognizing the importance to be environmentally conscious and the need to protect and improve biodiversity by implementing sustainable initiatives.

The City is encouraging residents to help protect pollinators during the month of May. Pollinators, including bees, butterflies, bats, and birds rely on the blooming of plants and flowers for nourishment and protection during the colder temperatures. As the days start to warm, pollinators emerge out of hibernation in search of food that is scarce, as vegetation is just starting to bloom. However, not all insects have fully emerged yet.

Some species may still be in hibernation due to fluctuating weather and could be hiding in logs, twigs, and leaf litter commonly found in our yards. The concept of No Mow May is to offer pollinators a chance to emerge from hibernation before mowing the lawn, to give them the first food source of the season that is harder to find this time of year, as well as provide shelter and protection during the colder days and nights of the month of May. This is also beneficial to birds as the assorted vegetation provide them with their varied needs for food and provide them with additional shelter.

There is currently a worldwide decline in bee and insect population due to numerous variables including climate change, habitat loss, pesticide use, and invasive species. Many ecosystems are eradicated during the construction of commercial or industrial sectors which minimizes the habitats of our pollinators. Climate change causes changes in temperature and precipitation, affecting hibernation patterns and blooming patterns of plants.

Insects emerging from hibernation early due to warmer weather will face difficulty when foraging for food, as many plants and flowers have not yet bloomed. This will cause plants to struggle as they will be pollinated later, and insects to struggle as they will be missing out on food sources.

Pollination is the transferring of seeds from one plant to another to germinate flowers. This process is done by species such as bees, birds and butterflies landing on a flower for nourishment who pick up these seeds from the pollen, and who travel and land on a different flower, eventually dropping off the seeds and fertilizing the new flower.

This process is beneficial for the plants who can now bloom, and for the pollinators who receive nutrients. Plants and vegetation are especially important for our ecosystems, and it is important to provide for them and for our pollinator friends as each species contributes to our region’s biodiversity.

Myth – No Mow May increases tick populations.

Fact - Scientific research indicates that milder weather is responsible for the increase in tick population and habitat spreading. They are now able to survive winter. Studies show that No Mow May does not increase tick populations since lawns are probably too dry for the species. Blacklegged ticks (lyme carriers) require 100% humidity for at least part of the day to thrive. The research concludes that ticks found in lawns are typically associated with adjacent woodlands and since they cannot jump, they attach onto whatever passes by. An article published in the academic publication Ecosphere Journal in 2016 stated that ticks are more attracted to “woodlands, particularly in urban and suburban areas, that consist of small forests with mature trees, understory shrubs and leaf litter […].” To help prevent the spread of ticks into urban neighbourhoods, check your clothes (and your pets) when leaving wooded areas or trails.

Myth - Now Mow May increases airborne pollen.

Fact - Research shows that during May 2022 pollen was high across the province of Ontario. The vegetation that generated the most pollen was pine, fir, and spruce; grass had a moderate count; and pollen from weeds and other plants was low or non-existent. A 2019 article in the academic journal British Ecological Society titled Mowing urban lawns less intensely increases biodiversity, saves money and reduces pests claims that reducing the intensity of lawn mowing in urban spaces does lead to the “reduced presence of allergy-triggering weeds,” such as ragweed since the species is able to “colonise disturbances caused by intense mowing.”

In collaboration with The Cline House Gallery, the City Cornwall organized a No Mow May sign art contest for spring 2023.

Participants were to submit a piece reflecting the No Mow May theme in the material of their choice. The winning entries were each featured on twenty-five No Mow May lawn signs and are currently being displayed in the community.

Congratulations to our winners:

1. Walk around your lawn and look for signs of nesting wildlife. Rabbit nests are often tucked into the undergrowth of other vegetation. They appear as regular dried patches of material and dirt. If you happen to see a heap of grass, look under it to be certain it isn’t a rabbit nest. Keep a watchful eye out at dawn and dusk for active rabbits.
2.  If you find a rabbit’s nest…Place a protective barrier around the nest with enough entry space for the mother rabbit. Mark the nest as a reminder to leave enough space when carrying out lawncare activities. Keep in mind that mother rabbits don't want to attract predators to their babies, so they mostly leave them on their own, hidden and camouflaged. Mom will come back a few times a day, usually between dusk and dawn, to feed the babies. 
3. Cut your grass in stages. It’s best not to go from No Mow May back to your old lawn in one cut because it could kill your grass.
4. Mow at the highest setting. This allows low lying flowers to continue to grow and decrease re-flower time for those that are mown.
5. Keeping your grass at the maximum allowed length has benefits. Cutting the grass too short damages root growth. Some grasses have different heights where they grow best. Leaving 1/3 of a leaf-blade length can result in the best looking full-cover lawn.
6. Reducing the amount of fertilizer used promotes better aeration for growth.
7. It’s ok to be somewhat lazy with your property; a manicured lawn is a desert for pollinators and most wildlife. A small pile of twigs makes a great home for pollinators. Leaving a patch of ground dry, unmulched and uncultivated is beneficial for the native bees that nest underground. All bees need a source of water with a perch. Offering a muddy spot with stones helps them out!

No Mow May will benefit pollinators such as bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, bats, and birds who rely on flowers and plants for food and shelter and who sometimes need extra time to come out of hibernation. This will also be helping flowers and other plants who rely on pollinators to bloom and reproduce. It will also benefit other communities such as rabbits, squirrels and ground-foraging birds who also rely on plants and flowers for food and shelter, but also for habitats and nesting grounds.

Photo by Cornell University.

No Mow May will also benefit residents by saving time and energy. Mowing less frequently will reduce the amount of air pollution created by the fuel, which will also decrease the resources going into purchasing gasoline. Lawns will also become more resilient to drought when decreasing the number of times you mow. This will ensure that lawns retain their moisture, ultimately reducing the number of times you need to water it. This will save on time, labour, and water costs. Along with saving time and resources, letting the lawn and plants grow uninterrupted brings a vibrant and colourful beauty to your lawn (and it smells nice). You may even learn a thing or two about it and the species it hosts.

No Mow May is a global initiative and is supported by other municipalities in Canada, including Kingston, Sudbury, East Gwillimbury, and 1000 Islands. Quebec City has created a similar program called, “The Dandelion Challenge,” and North Vancouver has created “The No Mow Meadow Project.” Both projects bring forth the same approach as No Mow May, with residents delaying mowing their lawns to give pollinators access to more food sources and to promote the growth of their population.

See what some municipalities are doing to promote the movement.

• Dandelion Challenge returns to promote the growth of pollinating insects in Quebec
• East Gwillimbury - What is the No Mow May Challenge?
• Kingston, Ont. introduces ‘No Mow May’ to help bee, insect populations

Guelph – “Pollination Guelph”. Guelph displays gardens that are planted with shrubs, grasses and flowering perennials that offer food (pollen and nectar), nesting and overwintering sites for pollinating insects. The seeds and berries also attract birds and small mammals to the gardens.

Find more Information here: Pollination Guelph

Toronto – “Pollinator friendly garden”.  Toronto is enhancing and protecting pollinator and small animal habitat in natural and urbanized areas by planting native plants, trees and shrubs.

Find More Information here: How to Help Wild Bees & Other Native Pollinators

Ottawa – “Pollinator Steward Certification”. Ottawa is helping citizens take a more active role in pollinator conservation. The program involves educating participants about pollinator ecology, habitat creation, and public education strategies.

Find More Information here: Pollinator Steward Certification

You can mow anytime in May, that is up to you as there is no signed contract. As long as you delay your first mow, a good time to start mowing again would be when days and nights are consistently staying warm, and the pollinators no longer need to shelter themselves from the cold. A safe time to start would be end of May.

The Yard Maintenance By-Law will be enforced again starting the month of June and your grass cannot exceed the height of 15 centimeters (6 inches). Residents are encouraged to take the gradual approach when starting to mow. This will give the pollinators a chance to realize that the area is not the best place for them anymore.

The gradual approach will also prevent the lawn from being damaged. Before mowing, it is important to check the lawn for nesting animals like rabbits or for birds that may have fallen out of trees.

Photo by Mary Thomas, The Forest Preserve District of Will County.  

For the first mow after No Mow May, it is best to cut the lawn at the highest setting to prevent any damages to the lawn. Cutting off too much lawn at once will stress the grass and weaken the lawn over time.

It is important to mow the grass gradually and in stages while never cutting more than one-third of the blade at a time. The best height for grass is 3 inches tall.

Arrangements will be made for No Mow May signs to be distributed the week of May 6, 2024. If you have any questions regarding the signs or need assistance obtaining one, please email sustainability@cornwall.ca or call 613-930-2787, ext. 2507.

Some participants have also created their own No Mow May signs to display on their lawns. Feel free to get creative with it!

You are welcome to hang on to them and keep them for next year; however, keep in mind that No Mow May needs to be approved by Council every year. So do not put out your sign until you know that the initiative has been approved. We will be sending out an email to all those who have registered at the beginning of June asking if you’d like to return your sign.

A recent study by the University of Guelph suggests that not mowing one’s lawn is counterproductive as it does not help pollinators and that the person will eventually mow the lawn, therefore there is no sense in delaying it. Have you ever looked at a property with long grass or with more vegetation? If so, you have most likely noticed at least one species of mammal or insect on that property.

Species often seen on vegetation-rich properties include bees, butterflies, beetles, moths, birds, frogs, rabbits, squirrels, and chipmunks.

This is because keeping the lawn longer and planting more vegetation does indeed help pollinators and other mammals as it provides food, shelter, and protection.

The timeframe of letting your lawn grow out during the month of May is simply to let the pollinators and other animals come out of hibernation and use the tall grass and plants to shield themselves during the occasional cold days and nights. It also provides them with nourishment when food is scarce as everything is starting to grow back and isn’t established yet. By the time June arrives, animals and insects should be out of hibernation and the lawn will be less habituated as they will be able to find nourishment elsewhere in less human-crowded areas.

The University also suggests that cutting too much of the grass’s length at once is traumatic and leaves the grass with a sudden loss of energy source. It is indeed not recommended to drastically mow your lawn from tall grass to very short grass in a short time span. Gradually mowing your lawn in sections will prevent damage from being done to your lawn. It is recommended to first mow your lawn at the highest setting to ensure the grass blades do not get damaged or ripped out of the soil. It is also important to remember not to cut over one-third of the blade height when mowing, as cutting more could damage it.

The study mentions that early-flowering weeds such as dandelions are an incomplete source of nutrition for pollinators and that they would receive better nutrition from crab-apples, willows, and oaks. It is no secret that flowering plants and trees provide excellent nutritional benefits for our pollinators and other mammals. However, not everyone can or are willing to plant large trees or additional plants and bushes on their property. Participating in No Mow May is one of the many approaches people can take to support the pollinators and is something that is easily done. Plants that often grow on lawns like dandelions, henbits, and white and red clovers do contain pollen and are a great source of nutrition for the pollinators and small mammals.

Photo by Alamy, The Guardian.

As temperatures are getting warmer with the years, the population of ticks has skyrocketed. They have also evolved and are now able to survive cold winters, which makes them present all year round. Ticks prefer wooded and forest areas and enjoy burrowing inside leaf litter, wood piles, and shrubs.

As ticks are very small and can only crawl little by little, they’re main way of traveling is by attaching themselves to a host, whether it is a person or an animal. Therefore, it is important check yourself and your pets when leaving parks and wooden areas as ticks can easy fall off on a property and establish themselves in the lawn or garden. Consider administrating a flea and tick preventative for your pet and ensuring that their Lyme vaccine is up to date.

Find more information on ticks here- Preventing tick bites, Tick removal and testing

The amount of pollen in Ontario during the month of May 2022 was said to be elevated. Most of the pollen came from sources such as pines, firs and spruces, with little to none coming from grass and other plants.

Pollen and seasonal allergies are very common during the start of spring, as everything is starting to bloom and the climate tends to be windy, carrying that pollen around. Mowing the lawn less frequently would decrease the amount of free pollen, as mowing disturbs vegetation, releasing the pollen into the air.

Consider planting native allergy-friendly flowers that contain less pollen like hydrangeas, tulips, peonies, and roses.

Click here for a list of allergy-friendly plants  

Generally, small animals prefer living and foraging in fields and woody areas. As a lawn becomes richer in vegetation, it does have the potential to attract smaller animals. However, lawns aren’t their ideal option as they are surrounded by people, and small animals prefer to hide and burrow in quiet areas.

Another factor that does encourage visits from rodents and small animals on properties is garbage. The smell of garbage is enough to invite a swarm of creatures onto yours and your neighbours’ lawns. Making sure that garbage is properly disposed of and sealed is important and recommended to keep the critters away.

If you do suspect a rodent issue, consider sprinkling coffee ground or cinnamon on your lawn, as these substances are unpleasantly bitter for them and are a natural repellent.

If you or someone you know would like to participate to No Mow May but are living on the same property as someone who isn’t interested, try to come up with a consensus.

There are other ways to support pollinators that doesn’t only involve mowing the lawn. You can plant a pollinator garden with native plants or build a pollinator house. Considering sprinkling some wildflower seeds near the side of your house or leave a part of your lawn unmown.

It is important to spread the word and to help others understand the importance of pollinators and biodiversity. There are many things we can do to help them, many of them being very simple.

On the contrary, displaying an abundance of colours and flowers is very pleasing to the eye, especially when your lawn is frequented by butterflies and other attractive insects. If you do not want to let your entire lawn grow, consider making a pollinator garden.

You can even decorate it with rocks or fences for added aesthetic.

Photo by Antonia Peacock, NHBS.

There are many ways you can help the pollinators besides not mowing your lawn. Consider leaving a portion of your lawn uncut. This small section will be enough for the pollinators to visit and obtain sufficient nourishment. 

Another way to help the pollinators is by planting more plants, shrubs, and flowers. These can be planted in pots or planters as well as in pollinator gardens. Consider planting big patches of plants for better foraging efficiency and varies species to encourage plant and insect diversity. Also, consider planting native flowering plants that our region and pollinators have adapted to, such as beebalms, milkweed, and coneflowers. Willow trees and apple trees are also great to plant as they produce more nutrient pollen than other plants.

Photo by Todd Hambleton, Standard Freeholder.

Visit this link for information about how to construct a pollinator garden.

Visit this link for more examples of the best plants for pollinators.

Leave a small pole of branches to create a moth or butterfly habitat. Hollow twigs and piles of leaf litter create bee habitats. Rotten logs with holes make good homes for wood-borrowing beetles. Dead or dying trees are great for woodpeckers. Consider not using heavy mulch as it may block entry to 70% of our bee pollinators who nest underground.

It is also important not to use pesticides or herbicides on the lawn, as this will keep the pollinators away and kill them. Mowing less frequently and at the highest setting will allow low lying flowers to grow. More ways to help pollinators include providing sugar syrup to provide energy and nourishment, and constructing bee habitats such as pollinator houses that will help with native solitary bees.

Photo by Flow Hive

Visit this link for more information about bee houses.  Visit these links for more tips on how to participate in No Mow May this spring - 

• https://www.bhg.com/gardening/yard/no-mow-may/ https://beecitycanada.org/pollinator-resources/plant-a-pollinator-garden/
• https://www.selwyntownship.ca/en/resident-services/pollinator-paradise.aspx#Plant-a-Pollinator-Garden

Yes, there are things we can do to help the pollinators during other seasons besides spring. Delay garden cleanup and consider not removing leaf litter piles from your lawn so that pollinators can hibernate in them during the winter. The leaves that fall during the fall season provides shelter and insulation for species before the winter and also add nutrients and decaying organic matter to the soil. Adding rocks, branches and twigs will also provide a habitat for our pollinators. Leaving a little patch of dirt on your lawn will attack ground foraging birds, and building bat, bee, and bird houses will provide shelter. Logs, old stumps, branches, wood debris, and leaf litter also make good habitats and shelters for birds, insects, small animals, and amphibians like toads, frogs and amphibians. Logs make good homes to insects that burrow under the bark and also provides a nesting ground for reptiles and amphibians who lay their eggs in moist wood. Leaving your lawn as natural as it can be is a great way to help local pollinators and wildlife.

Volunteer with Transition Cornwall+ and be part of numerous projects that thrive towards supporting environmental sustainability and our local wildlife.

Take the Pollinator pledge and vow to protect the pollinators.

Sign up for the Youth for Climate Action Working Group and learn about ways you can help your community regarding climate change, sustainable practices and protecting wildlife.

Donate and be part of the Butterflyway Project to support the pollinators.

Join Cornwall’s bird-friendly working group ands help the City become a bird-friendly city. Email sustainability@cornwall.ca for more information.