Don't Mow, Let It Grow

Background

In 2018, the City of Brampton launched the Don’t Mow, Let it Grow initiative that focuses on converting select areas of public land covered by turf grass into pollinator habitats and meadows. This initiative will help beautify Brampton and make it a more healthy, resilient and environmentally sustainable City.

Don't Mow let it Grow image.png
Pictures of turf grass (left), pollinator habitat (centre), and meadows (right).

What you need to know

The City is still mowing, we're just being more strategic about it. We have evaluated our mowing program and identified a number of strategic locations where it makes sense to eliminate mowing. Cutting, mowing and manicuring grass has high environmental and economic costs.

It reduces biological diversity and habitat.
It contributes to air and water pollution.
It increases stormwater runoff.
It decreases soil structure and quality.
It costs taxpayers money.
It requires a significant amount of fuel and labour.

Since 2018, the Don’t Mow, Let it Grow Program has converted approximately 28 hectares of turf grass into meadows and pollinator habitat. To view our existing No Mow Sites, visit our Natural Heritage Restoration Interactive Map and select the "No Mow Initiative" layer.

Benefits of Naturalization

The “No Mow” zones being naturalized result in various environmental, financial, and aesthetic benefits. For example, they support pollinators and wildlife, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and help manage stormwater.

The Don’t Mow, Let it Grow initiative helps achieve the goals and targets of the City’s Grow Green Environmental Master Plan, and the Natural Heritage and Environmental Management Strategy.

Check out the FAQ section below for more information. For additional questions or concerns, please get in touch with growgreen@brampton.ca.

FAQs

Is the City stopping all mowing?: No, the City of Brampton will continue mowing most areas, such as sports and recreation areas. Only strategically select areas will be designated No Mow zones.
What is a No Mow zone?: A No Mow zone is a strategically selected area that will not be mowed by the City, and will be naturalized.
Why is the city doing this?: This initiative helps Brampton achieve the goals and targets of the City's "Brampton Grow Green Environmental Master Plan", as well as as well as the "Natural Heritage and Environmental Management Strategy". No Mow zones are a positive way of managing grasslands for the benefit of the environment and people.

There are many benefit to reducing mowing, including but not limited to:

• No Mow zones will help create meadows that provide habitat for various species. These zones allow plants to flower, which in turn provides an excellent place for pollinators, like butterflies, bumblebees and humming birds, to stop and have a meal. This is especially important since pollinators are essential to the production of 75% of the staple crop plants that feed humans and for 90% of all flowering plants in the world.

• Unlike turf, meadows do not require regular mowing. Reducing mowing decreases the the City's use of fossil fuels and its greenhouse gas emissions. Did you know that one mas mower running for an hour emits the same amount of pollutants as driving a card for 550 kilometres?

• No Mow zones help improve water quality by intercepting pollutants that are not absorbed by turf, which results in cleaner stormwater runoff entering water bodies like streams, rivers, and lakes, the source of our drinking water.
Should I be concerned about snakes?: Meadows provide habitat to a variety of species, including snakes. Snakes are allusive and shy. Snakes found in Brampton, such as the Common Garter, are harmless.

Remember, the biodiversity that meadows support provides natural wildlife control mechanisms for mitigating pests by allowing natural processes to occur. For example, snakes prey on rodents (e.g. mice), which helps control their population, while some birds prey on snakes.
Do No Mow zones pose a safety concern?: No. The No Mow zones are carefully located with safety as a priority. The City will mow two meter strips along trails and sidewalks that pass through No Mow zones. Trail entrances will also be mowed.
Will No Mow areas increase my allergies?: Recent research indicates that the average pollen season in North America has lengthened by approximately three weeks over the past few decades. There has been a notable increase of around 20 percent in pollen release by plants compared to previous years. An increasing number of individuals are experiencing allergies either earlier than usual or for the first time. This rise in pollen levels can be attributed to the warmer weather resulting from climate change. The plants that grow in No Mow Areas play a crucial role in combating climate change.
Should I be concerned about Coyotes?: City of Brampton Coyotes are those of an Eastern Coyote averaging a weight of approximately 31-40 lbs. Coyotes are integral members of a diversified ecosystem and contribute to a necessary and healthy prey-predator balance. They are known as our natural garbage collectors. We benefit tremendously from their activities, however, human-coyote conflicts may arise when we intentionally feed them or inadvertently create opportunities for free-food around our City. Click here for more information: https://www.brampton.ca/EN/residents/Animal-Services/Pages/Coyotes.aspx
Will No Mow zones result in too many "weeds" that look unpleasant?: Naturalization is a long-term process, and it may take a few years for the grasses and wildflowers to become more dominant. But with each year the No Mow zones will being increasingly vibrant and diverse natural areas.

Remember many "weeds" such as dandelions and clovers are actually wildflowers that attract butterflies and bumblebees, as well as beneficial bugs to your garden.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Appreciate the natural beauty and the environmental benefits of the newly established meadow.