Starkville residents may notice taller grass and more wildflowers than usual around the city this month as officials launch the city’s first No Mow March initiative.
The initiative, which has gained popularity in cities across the southeast, encourages delaying early-season mowing so flowering plants can provide food for bees and other pollinators. But what exactly is No Mow March, why is Starkville participating and how can residents take part?
What is No Mow March?
As the name suggests, the city’s participation in No Mow March means crews will refrain from mowing city rights-of-way, medians and municipal lots throughout the month. The goal is to allow early-season pollinator habitats to flourish, giving bees and other insects access to food sources that can be scarce in early spring.
Chris Smiley, director of Starkville’s sanitation department, said the idea grew out of conversations with Mississippi State University professors and seeing other municipalities across the southeast experiment with similar programs.
“Hopefully we get some good, positive reviews from it and it helps nature … the bees, and … the wildflowers from a beauty standpoint,” Smiley told The Dispatch on Friday. “The unique thing always with a municipality is we have to consider our taxpayers, and (the initiative) from an aesthetic standpoint. People sometimes don’t like change, so hopefully some will buy into it and see the benefits of it.”
Smiley said he doesn’t anticipate the initiative to have a negative effect on traffic visibility, though the city will continue monitoring potential safety concerns.
“Of course, if we get any complaints or any issues where visibility might become an issue, we would immediately take safety first and do what we have to do,” he said.
Why do it?
Jeff Harris, a beekeeping specialist with MSU Extension, said early spring can be one of the most difficult times of year for bees and other pollinators.
Allowing wildflowers, clovers and other plants to bloom during March provides critical food sources for pollinating insects at a time when many species are struggling to survive post-winter.
“This time of year is real tough on bees because we’ll have warm periods like we’re having now, and then we might actually get cold again,” Harris said. “When the weather goes up and down, bees are stressed more … then they start using up their stores quicker.”
Harris said resuming regular mowing in late March or April won’t hurt, as more plants are consistently blooming, giving bees more reliable food sources.
“Not mowing in March, it may be a little messy, but it really helps all the bees because it gives them food that they normally wouldn’t have if you just kept to your normal mowing schedule,” he said.
Jay McCurdy, a turfgrass specialist at MSU Extension, said mowing less frequently can also help insects that nest underground by reducing disturbances to their habitat.
In addition to environmental benefits, Smiley said pausing mowing will allow city crews to focus on other beautification projects like pruning and planting trees ahead of spring.
The initiative could also contribute to cost savings for the city from reduced fuel use and equipment operation, Smiley said. Though he didn’t have an estimate on how much it would save the city, Smiley said the city plans to measure that difference this year.
How can residents participate?
Residents interested in joining the effort can contribute in several ways, Harris said. While some homeowners may choose to skip mowing entirely during March, others may prefer to simply raise their mower blades slightly, allowing shorter flowers and clovers to bloom while still maintaining a tidy lawn.
For larger yards, Harris said mowing in sections can also help, leaving some areas unmowed long enough for flowers to bloom before cutting others.
McCurdy said residents can also think about adjusting mowing habits earlier in the year by reducing mowing during colder or more variable weather periods from January through March.
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