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nolawns:funstuff [2026/07/08 20:54] – greatwhitebuffalo41nolawns:funstuff [2026/07/08 23:40] (current) – [Community Programs] greatwhitebuffalo41
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 ====== No Lawns: Fun Stuff ====== ====== No Lawns: Fun Stuff ======
  
-====== No Mow May ======+====== 1. No Mow May ======
  
 No Mow May is a movement that has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Unfortunately, that attention has often included bad info and misunderstandings. With this guide, we hope to clear up the pros and cons of no mow and answer common questions. No Mow May is a movement that has gained a lot of attention in recent years. Unfortunately, that attention has often included bad info and misunderstandings. With this guide, we hope to clear up the pros and cons of no mow and answer common questions.
  
-===== What are the benefits? =====+===== 1.1 What are the benefits? =====
  
 The basic idea behind No Mow May is that there aren't many flowers popping up in the month of May,so allowing common lawn flowers to stay up (not mowing them over) is beneficial to pollinators. The actual impact this has varies greatly by location, so doing a little research about your local no mow may movement is a good idea.Bee City USA has a great article on the topic. The basic idea behind No Mow May is that there aren't many flowers popping up in the month of May,so allowing common lawn flowers to stay up (not mowing them over) is beneficial to pollinators. The actual impact this has varies greatly by location, so doing a little research about your local no mow may movement is a good idea.Bee City USA has a great article on the topic.
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 Note that many of these are (E) Exotic / non-native. Note that many of these are (E) Exotic / non-native.
  
-===== What are the limitations? =====+===== 1.2 What are the limitations? =====
  
 No Mow May is a really great starting point for having a conversation about lawns in general. But in most locations, no mow on its own is not a long term solution. Invasive and non-native species will overwhelm the area quickly, leading to a post here asking for help. No Mow May is a really great starting point for having a conversation about lawns in general. But in most locations, no mow on its own is not a long term solution. Invasive and non-native species will overwhelm the area quickly, leading to a post here asking for help.
  
-===== How to No Mow May like a pro =====+===== 1.3 How to No Mow May like a pro =====
  
 ==== - Define your spaces ==== ==== - Define your spaces ====
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 Once you have established where you can eventually remove your lawn, be sure to mow down the long grass before invasive species can take hold. You might choose to mow around native species pop up in your unmown space, but just letting a former turf grass lawn run wild is not a good way to help your local ecosystem. Once you have established where you can eventually remove your lawn, be sure to mow down the long grass before invasive species can take hold. You might choose to mow around native species pop up in your unmown space, but just letting a former turf grass lawn run wild is not a good way to help your local ecosystem.
 +
 +===== 2. Mosquito Buckets =====
 +
 +For more info see the [[https://homegrownnationalpark.org/mosquito-bucket-challenge/|full article here]]. Thank you Home Grown National Park.
 +
 +Mosquitoes are often controlled with broad pesticide spraying, sometimes called fogging. These treatments don't just affect mosquitoes. They can kill caterpillars, fireflies, dragonflies, pollinators, and other wildlife, and they can be harmful to kids and pets.
 +
 +The Mosquito Bucket Challenge is a more targeted approach. The goal isn't to wipe out every mosquito, just to reduce the ones biting where you spend time outside, without harming the rest of the ecosystem. Simple, inexpensive, and better for biodiversity.
 +
 +
 +==== 2.1 The Whole-Yard Method ====
 +
 +**The most effective approach to controlling mosquitoes without fogging treats your yard as a system:**
 +
 +{{https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f331.svg?15x15|🌱}} STEP 1\\ Support a healthy habitat.\\ Plant native and skip sprays to create a healthy yard that supports dragonflies, birds, and bats that eat mosquitoes.
 +
 +{{https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1faa3.svg?15x15|🪣}} STEP 2\\ Make a Mosquito Bucket.\\ Target larvae in a controlled spot before they become biting adults.
 +
 +{{https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f4a7.svg?15x15|💧}}** STEP 3**\\ **Dump standing water.**\\ Empty containers, gutters, and saucers, anywhere stagnant water collects.
 +
 +{{https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f99f.svg?15x15|🦟}} STEP 4\\ Treat standing water you can't dump.**\\ Use mosquito dunks in birdbaths, rain barrels, and ponds.
 +
 +{{https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1faad.svg?15x15|🪭}} STEP 5\\ Protect yourself when needed.\\ Use screens, fans, repellents, and protective clothing to help reduce bites.
 +
 +{{https://s.w.org/images/core/emoji/17.0.2/svg/1f3d8.svg?15x15|🏘️}} STEP 6\\ Get your neighbors involved.\\ Mosquito management works best when the whole community participates.
 +
 +===== Community Programs =====
 +
 +  * [[https://homegrownnationalpark.org/community-programs/|Homegrown National Park: Community Programs]] (US)
 +  * [[https://wildones.org/events/|Wild Ones: Events Calendar]] (US)
 +  * [[https://wildones.org/category/wild-ones-presents/|Wild Ones: Webinars]] (Web based)
 +
 +
 +===== Crafts, Flyers, and Fun =====
 +
 +Cool yard signs, spreading knowledge, and other fun hands on stuff.
 +
 +  * Homegrown National Park: [[https://homegrownnationalpark.org/print-share-materials/|Print and Share Materials]]
  
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