No Mow May About More Than Just Giving The Lawn A Rest In Mamaroneck

MAMARONECK, NY — Even though we are already halfway through the month of May, it's not too late to learn about how you can help save the pollinators during No Mow May.

The No Mow May movement originated in England a few years ago and has since been in the spotlight locally, even featured in the NY Times recently. The Village of Mamaroneck Committee for the Environment hopes to teach Village of Mamaroneck residents about the benefits of letting the grass grow for early pollinators and what the community can do to support the local ecosystem.

One out of every three bites of food are dependent on pollination. You can thank a pollinator for coffee, blueberries, watermelon and 1,000 other foods worldwide. Pollinators include hummingbirds, bats, beetles, bees, ants, wasps, butterflies and other small animals who move pollen from flower to flower, causing fertilization.

V. of Mamaroneck's Committee for the Environment's 5 easy things to do to help pollinators:

1. Do not use any pesticides, chemicals, or sprays. All types of sprays kill beneficial pollinators and their larvae. If you want to see more ladybugs and fireflies in your yard, don't spray anything!
2. Plant native flowers. A native plant occurs naturally in the place where it evolved, therefore, giving pollinators food they need to thrive. Stay away from fancy hybrids and cultivars. Plant a variety of native flowers so bloom times range from spring until fall.
3. Participate in No Mow May. Do not mow your lawn for the month of May to provide early pollinators with a habitat and a place to forage for food. Dandelions, clovers, and violets are good nectar sources. If you must mow, mow high!
4. Create a bee habitat. Dead trees and logs make wonderful nesting habitats for bees. Place in low traffic areas.
5. Plant a host plant for caterpillars/butterflies and let them eat it. Plant Milkweed for Monarchs or Dill for Eastern Black Swallowtails. Remember, if nothing is eating your plants, you are not part of the ecosystem.

You can also sign the No Mow Way: Village of Mamaroneck Change.org petition. As of Monday morning, there were 42 signatures.

For more information, you can send an email to Mandy Sticos.