Experience the Benefits of No Mow March this Spring

What’s Up, Forsyth? We are excited to share with you a new initiative within the City of Winston-Salem and in Forsyth County that will protect pollinators, reduce water consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, and improve air quality in our communities! For the first time ever, we are participating in “No Mow March”—an adaptation of “No Mow May,” which began in the United Kingdom where the growing season starts later than in North Carolina.

What is “No Mow March”?

As the name suggests, Winston-Salem residents are encouraged to let their yards grow through March 31 and will not be cited for not mowing their lawns. However, to avoid fines, residents should resume compliance with the city code on high grass and weeds in April. Participants in No Mow March are encouraged to take the pledge on the City of Winston-Salem’s Sustainability webpage. Also, yard signs are available for purchase for only $14! These signs will help raise awareness of the initiative and increase adoption of the practice within residential areas next year.

 

Some of our public lands also will be participating in No Mow March. For 2025, the City will be choosing eight parks not to mow—one in each ward:

• Washington Park (South Ward)
•  Reynolds Park (Southeast Ward)
•  Bolton Park (Southwest Ward)
• South Fork (West Ward)
• Winston Square (Northwest Ward)
•  Blum Blanding Park (Northeast Ward)
• Kimberly Park (North Ward)
• Happy Hill Park (East Ward)

After evaluating how this first year goes, there may be some modifications for 2026. Additionally, Forsyth County will be participating at the following parks:

• Kernersville Lake Park
• C G Hill Park
• 421 River Park
• Horizons Park
• Belews Lake Park

Why Participate in No Mow March?

1) Protect our Pollinators:

There are myriad co-benefits of participating in this new initiative, but the main reason behind No Mow March is to protect our pollinators. As a Bee City, Winston-Salem is actively working to preserve and conserve pollinator habitat. We know that it isn’t just impervious, paved surfaces that can create biological deserts in our communities—it’s often our yards. The typical American lawn is a monoculture (meaning one type of plant) and provides little benefit to pollinators and other wildlife. Moreover, commonly applied pesticides can be toxic not just to wildlife but children and pets. 

Native bees, like sweat bees, pollinate native plants, all of which ensure North Carolina ecosystems stay healthy. Image credit: "Striped sweat bee (Agapostemon sp.) visiting mustard (Brassica juncea 'Osaka Purple') flowers" by karen_hine is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

 

In our increasingly developed landscape, it can be challenging for pollinators to find food at the beginning of the growing season. When we let our lawns grow for a month at the start of the season, it allows flowers to bloom and produce nectar and pollen. Our primary objective is to protect the habitat of thousands of native bees, butterflies, moths, etc. upon which native plants and food crops depend. For example, some plants need the assistance of “buzz pollination” that native bumblebees and carpenter bees (not honeybees) can perform well. See it in action by watching this video! Delayed mowing and reduced mowing frequency not only boosts pollinator populations, but grasshoppers, fireflies, and other insects can benefit, too.

2) Breathe Cleaner Air:

 

The air quality benefits of reducing the use of gas-powered lawn equipment are clear. They are a significant source of particulate matter, as well as nitrogen oxides (NOx) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are the main ingredients in the formation of ground-level ozone. Using data from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Environment America Research & Policy Center found that in 2020, gas-powered lawn equipment in the US emitted roughly 22,000 tons of fine particulate matter, 68,000 tons of nitrogen oxides, and 350,000 tons of VOCs. They also produced more than 30 million tons of carbon dioxide—the most abundant greenhouse gas and primary driver of global climate change. To put it in perspective, operating a new gas lawn mower for 1 hour produces the equivalent VOCs and NOx as driving a new car for 45 miles.  That’s about the same as driving from Winston-Salem to Salisbury! Reducing areas that require mowing or switching to battery powered lawn equipment are better choices for our air in North Carolina and our global climate.

 

Aside from reducing harmful air pollutants, choosing not to mow this March, along with reducing mowing frequency throughout the growing season, might help those with pollen allergies this spring. In the Piedmont Triad region of NC, tree pollen season begins in February, and for those who are allergic to the pollen of cedar/juniper, elm, maple, alder, and a few other trees that produce pollen early in the season, waiting to mow until April could reduce the severity of symptoms. This is because mowing stirs up pollen that has settled on the ground, making it airborne once more.

 

An even easier long-term solution throughout the year would be to create native landscapes that do not require mowing or frequent watering since native plants are adapted to our climate. The types of native perennial plants that comprise natural landscapes are primarily insect-pollinated as opposed to wind-pollinated species, which cause the vast majority of seasonal allergy problems. Thankfully, Winston-Salem passed an ordinance that allows for natural landscapes. To learn more and apply, click here!

Over the last several decades, bumblebee populations have been declining in the United States. Cultivating native landscapes within urban or suburban neighborhoods can boost their populations. Image credit: "Bumblebee on goldenrod" by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service - Midwest Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

 

 

For outdoor spaces that require mowing, wearing a mask and then immediately showering and washing clothes worn during yardwork may help lessen the effects of air pollutants and allergens on your health. Check out the Forsyth County Office of Environmental Assistance and Protection’s Pollen Program for more information.  

 

3) Conserve Water:

 

In the US, lawns are our most irrigated “crop” and cover around 40 million acres (~2%) of our total land. Each year, we use enough water on our lawns to fill the Chesapeake Bay! We can conserve water throughout the month of March by not mowing and watering grass. Additionally, shallower roots make grass more susceptible to stress during droughts, which we often experience in June and July in North Carolina. After March, consider leaving grass as high as possible (within the 8-inch requirement) since grass heights are directly correlated with root lengths. Deeper roots reduce the need to water as frequently and reduce soil erosion.

Lawns are the most irrigated crop in the United States. Image credit:

"20150723-NRCS-LSC-0116" by USDAgov is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

 

4) Boost Bird Populations:

Simply put, fewer pollinators and other insects means fewer birds since they are a major food source for birds. Like humans, birds also rely on pollinators to aid in the reproduction of plants that provide fruits and seeds that they eat. Taller vegetation provides better shelter and forage for ground-foraging birds. For a lasting initiative to help birds in your neighborhood throughout the year, consider planting more native plants and reduce the need to mow altogether! And of course, eliminate the use of rodenticides, which ultimately harms raptors like owls, hawks, and vultures. Forsyth Audubon has more tips for bird-friendly yard management, and NC State Extension shares valuable information for cultivating landscapes that help rather than harm wildlife, generally.

 

Carolina chickadees, among other birds native to North Carolina, help keep insect populations in check, and they also help distribute seeds for plants. "Carolina Chickadee" by USFWS Headquarters is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

 

5) Reduce Noise Pollution:

 

Perhaps one of the greatest nuisances of living in a community with manicured lawns is noise pollution. So, why not enjoy one more peaceful month? A typical gas-powered mower runs at around 95-100 decibels (dB). Electric lawn mowers are a better choice, in terms of not only air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions but also because they produce less noise, operating at around 80 dB. Remember that for every 6 dB difference, noise doubles, so that’s about 2-3x quieter than a gas-powered lawn mower!

 

It isn’t just humans who are disturbed by gas-powered lawn equipment. Noise pollution often interferes with wildlife communication, mating, navigation, and foraging, which could affect the survival and population density of some species. Read more from the Wildlife Habitat Council.

 

Will Un-mowed, Less Frequently Mowed, or Natural Yards Increase Pests?

Check out Penn State Extension’s myth-busting fact sheet on natural landscapes to learn why No Mow March/May campaigns and natural landscaping do not increase rat, mosquito, and tick populations. Although snakes can be found both in natural and traditionally maintained lawns, it’s important to remember that they help control rodent populations and disease-carrying ticks. Plus, the only venomous snake in Winston-Salem is the copperhead (Agkistrodon contortrix), and they’re more likely to be found seeking shelter in logs, rocks, or other structures than in tall grass.

 

The common garter snake, found in North Carolina, plays an important role in pest control by feeding on slugs, rodents, and insects. Image credit: "Common Gartersnake" by Wayne National Forest is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

 

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns about participating in No Mow March, please reach out to Dr. Shaleen Miller, Sustainability & Intergovernmental Relations Director with the City of Winston-Salem, at shaleenm@cityofws.org.