|
 Taming an unruly landscape? To me, it is measurable progress. It
seems so often that modern jobs give few tangible results. So
much of our work these days is in the digital ether. After a
full day's work, I leave the office switching off my computer,
and all my toiling vanishes with the click of a mouse.
Arriving at home, I seek tasks of visual permanence by working
with my hands, cleaning, and of course mowing. This desire to
mow often expands beyond the yard as many landowners also mow
road banks and ditches.
Unfortunately, the constant routine of mowing is harming the
monarch butterfly, due to the loss of milkweed. August and
September are critical months for the monarch butterfly. This
timeframe is when the final generation of the year develops and
prepares to make their flight to their overwintering site in
Mexico.
I don't want to burst your mowing bubble, we can all still hop
on the zero turn and get our fix, but there are times when we
should avoid mowing areas like ditches, road banks, natural
areas, or anywhere that harbors milkweed, the only plant that
monarch caterpillars eat.
For those living south of the 40-degree latitude line (includes
Quincy and on into southern Illinois), mow before April 1 and
mow after October 15. If necessary, you can also do a mid-summer
mowing July 1 to July 20.
For those living north of the 40-degree latitude line (includes
those north of Quincy and up into northern Illinois), mow before
May 1 and mow after October 1. A mid-summer mowing can take
place June 30 to July 10.
[to top of second column] |
These dates are based on monarch breeding and
migration activities. The mid-summer mowing will still cause some
mortality of monarchs.
Other tips for mowing habitat or roadsides:
• Don't mow the entire area. Leave unmown strips to recolonize the
cut areas.
• Avoid mowing at night when insects are inactive and cannot escape.
• Use a minimum cutting height of 8-12 inches. This height removes
seed production for many invasive plants while minimizing impact to
native plants.
• Use a flushing bar and mow slowly to allow wildlife to escape
before the mower passes over.
Milkweed is a disturbance species, and mowing can promote its growth
but can be damaging if done during peak times of monarch
reproduction and migration. Follow the above-stated mowing
guidelines, can help preserve vital monarch habitat. For more
information, check out the Monarch Joint Venture's brochure Mowing:
Best practices for monarchs at:
https://monarchjoint venture.org/images/uploads/documents/
MowingForMonarchs.pdf
[News Source: Christopher Enroth,
Extension Educator, Horticulture
Terri Miller, MPA
County Extension Director - Unit 16]
 |
