No ‘No Mow May’ in Wisconsin Rapids in 2026

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WFHR / WIRI) – It’s the first full week of May. For the first time in several years, people in Wisconsin Rapids will need to make sure their lawns are kept maintained. The City Council voted at their March 17th meeting not to adopt the No Mow May program this year. 

Mayor Matt Zacher speaking with WFHR on Perspective in April.

“… the council voted to do away with it. Their thoughts were that, and I tend to agree, that it was kind of abused,” explains Zacher.

The mayor went on to explain the idea behind the practice. It was intended to give native pollinators more access to early season foraging.

“ …but in the end, I think we kind of found out that grass in the end isn’t the best source,” says Zacher.

Supporting native pollinators

City officials recommend other early-season forager supportive practices such as limiting or eliminating chemical treatments. If you must treat with insecticides, the Department of Agriculture Trade and Consumer Protection recommends avoiding application on flowering plants or areas pollinators may be nesting. Another supportive practice is allowing native plants to flower, then mow before they go to seed. You can also let grass grow to six or seven inches before cutting with your mower deck height at its highest setting. This practice can also help protect your lawn against drought.

“ If people can plant more gardens, whether it’s just a circle of wildflowers that they mow around or whatever, I think that that’s great and it looks nicer and all that,” reasons Zacher.

The council made the decision after people took advantage of the program through May and even into June.

“ By that time you got three, four-foot grass and it’s more like a field at that point,” says Zacher. 

The Council decided ending the program is beneficial for the city.

“ …We are a community, we’re a municipal organization,” explains Zacher. “We want people to move here, we want businesses to grow here, and that’s not gonna happen if the city looks horrible.”

The City of Wisconsin Rapids municipal code (Chapter 36, Section 302.4, Mun. Code) requires lawns to be kept below seven inches in height. Property owners must now comply with that code a month earlier this year.