BANGOR DAILY NEWS • April 25, 2024
Growing numbers of people are leaving their yards unmowed for “No Mow May,” the same month when Maine’s tick season goes into full swing. No Mow May is a voluntary pledge that formally reached Maine in 2022 after beginning in Wisconsin several years before. Participants aim to provide habitat and pollen for early-season pollinators by mowing their lawns less or not at all for the month. The practice also provides habitat for ticks, which like to live in long grass. Letting your yard grow can provide them more habitat and may lead to more risk. If you’re concerned, try adding pollinator-benefitting plants to one area of your yard and continue to mow the places where you spend time.