Be part of an exciting research project, which is being co-sponsored by Regreen Springfield, looks at whether different lawn mowing frequency (weekly, every two weeks or every three weeks) can improve the sustainability and biodiversity of Springfield’s yards. We are looking for 15-20 properties in the tornado zone of the city for the project. In addition to all of the newly planted trees in your yards, pollinators (e.g., songbirds, bees and butterflies) provide important ecosystem services that help enhance the livability of cities. The presence of these animals might be enhanced by a more sustainable approach to lawn management. We will provide a report on the findings at the end of the study.
The lawmowing study is part of the Sustainability Begins at Home project, which aims to identify ways to improve the sustainability of yards for people and wildlife. This project is being supported by partners that include the USDA Forest Service, the National Science Foundation, UMass Amherst and the City of Springfield.
Here’s what we will do with your yard:
- Mow your lawn for most of May through September
- Document which pollinators are in your yard
- Keep track of soil conditions and identify all the plants growing in your yard
To participate or for more information, please contact:
Susannah Lerman
USDA Forest Service
email: slerman@cns.umass.edu
phone: 413/545-5447
