During March and April much of the country is in the middle of bird mating season.  After birds lay their eggs, they go through an incubation period of several weeks after which parents need several weeks to feed and raise their fledglings.  Mid-March through August is prime bird mating (and fledgling raising) months.

Setting aside “no-mow” areas in your customers’ lawns encourages native birds to thrive in your area.  No-Mow areas do not have to be large and they needent detract from the aesthetic value of the lawns you mow.  The size of a no-mow zone will depend on the size of the lawn and the extent to which your customer is willing to dedicated as a natural area. 

Within a typical subdivision style residential lawn, a simple strip 5 feet to 10 feet wide at the back of a customer’s property allows a minimal amount of space for Killdeer and other ground nesting birds to prepare their nests and raise their young.  Bigger lawns allow for larger no-mow zones. 

Though no-mow zones require a minimal amount of care, they are not necessarily completely unkempt.  These area can be naturally landscaped with items such as birdbaths and bird feeders.

For more information on the addition of natural “no-mow” zones to your lawn care customers yards, see the document:

Helping Birds At Home
Backyard Habitat for Birds

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