When you dust down the mower and knapsack, spare a thought for the bees:
Mow High – try to set your lawnmower a bit higher than usual to allow the daisies, dandelions and other flowers to flourish – they are a good source of food for early pollinators.
Mow Less – don’t mow areas with spring flowering bulbs in grass until at least 6 weeks after they have finished flowering. This will allow the bulbs to replenish for flowering next year.
Remember to check areas for litter before you mow.
Can you identify areas that can be left to become meadow?
This will be a great benefit to pollinators, especially along hedges and walls, and will save you time and money. Mow edges to keep them need and tidy, and continue to mow or strim areas along a road to keep visibility clear. Meadow areas can be mown at a high setting or strimmed after the flowers have set seed – usually late summer. Remove the cuttings.
No need to sow wildflower seeds as there will be plenty of local wildflower seeds in the soil already. Avoid seed from non-local sources as these will be genetically different from local seed. If you do want to sow an area, collect seed from your meadow areas this summer.
Spray Low – can you reduce the areas that you spray with weedkiller? Spraying is seriously affecting our pollinators, and while we are all used to having neat driveways and edges, please consider allowing areas to grow. Try strimming or mowing high instead, and avoid the ugly sprayed grass look!
Download more ideas on how to encourage pollinators and reduce mowing and spraying at:
https://pollinators.ie/gardens/
Thank you from all at Ferbane Tidy Towns. Do contact us if you need any help or advice.