Oakland County community not taking part in "No Mow May"
Ferndale, Michigan, is not taking part in "No Mow May" this year, according to city officials.
The initiative, adopted by the city in 2023 as a pilot program, allows pollen-producing plants to grow to increase nectar for bees and other pollinators. Officials say it also reduces emissions and noise pollution made from lawnmowers.
City officials say they evaluated "No Mow May" programs and found they were ineffective.
"This is mostly due to the lack of pollinator-friendly vegetation present in the typical suburban/urban turfgrass lawn, meaning that the plants that do grow when not being mowed do not contribute to pollinator habitats in any meaningful way," the city said in a release on Thursday.
The Ferndale Environmental Sustainability Commission made the recommendation to the City Council not to participate this year.
Residents are instead being asked to partake in "more permanent, long-term pollinator-aware lawn care."
Free native seeds, which officials say support local birds and wildlife, are available to pick up at Ferndale City Hall on East Nine Mile Road.
Ferndale residents must keep the height of grass and weeds at 7 inches or less from May 1 to Oct. 31, according to the city's municipal code.
Over 700 residents registered for the program in 2023.