No Mow April

This Spring, the City of Webster Groves is participating in a new initiative to support pollinators in our community. This initiative, championed by the Green Space and Sustainability Commissions, is No Mow April. The campaign asks Webster homeowners to not mow their lawns through the month, allowing bees and other early season pollinators access to nutrient-rich wildflowers like violets and clover.  

In full support, Mayor Laura Arnold and the city council have lifted the city requirement that grass not exceed ten inches from April 1—30. The city will also limit its mowing to areas that require it for specific recreational and sports activities. 

No Mow is a conservation initiative first popularized by Plantlife, an organization based in the United Kingdom. In recent years, the idea has gained traction across the globe. 


The Importance of Pollinators

Pollinators are essential to our environment. The ecological service they provide is necessary for the reproduction of over 85% of the world’s flowering plants, including more than two-thirds of the world’s crop species. Beyond agriculture, pollinators are keystone species in most terrestrial ecosystems. Fruits and seeds derived from insect pollination are a major part of the diet of approximately 25% of all birds and mammals. 

Unfortunately, in many places, 30 to 40 percent of native insect pollinator species are in serious decline from habitat loss, pesticide use, and introduced diseases. But, there are many ways YOU can help! 

  • Minimize Mowing in April: The goal of No Mow April is to allow your yard to grow unmown for the month. This allows flowers like violets and clover to bloom, creating habitat and forage for early-season pollinators. 
  • Grow Pollinator-Friendly Plants: Native plants provide the nectar and pollen resources that pollinators feed on. Growing the right flowers, shrubs, and trees with overlapping bloom times will support pollinators, spring through fall. 
  • Provide Nest Sites: It is important to support all pollinator life stages, including eggs and larvae. For bees, you can leave patches of bare ground and brush piles or install nesting blocks, and for butterflies and moths, plant caterpillar host plants. 
  • Avoid Pesticides: Pesticides, especially insecticides, are harmful to pollinators. Herbicides reduce food sources by removing flowers from the landscape. Fungicides can also have deleterious effects on bees.

Join Us By Participating in No Mow April!

By leaving your property unmown for the month of April, you’ll create the habitat pollinators and other wildlife need as they emerge in spring!  

Register here for participation in the program and request your NO MOW APRIL yard sign. 

No Mow Sign