I know that we are still waiting for the snow to melt, and maybe a few weeks of mud season, but we'll be mowing the lawns soon enough.  But, good news for those who would like to mow a little less frequently from now on and feel good about it!

According to a recent study by the National Science Foundation, mowing less will help our declining bee population in suburban areas.

The study was conducted by a scientist from UMass Amherst and the U.S. Department of Agricultural's Forest Service and completed in Springfield, Massachusetts.

The decreasing bee population has been a concerning topic in the past few years.  Time magazine reported on the problem of extinctions of many species due to loss of habitat and pesticides.  A decrease in the population of bees could have a huge effect on ecosystems and economies worldwide.

It is recommended to mow your lawn every two weeks, as opposed to every week to "... help encourage bee habitat in suburban lawns by allowing flowers to bloom."

The article published by the NSF goes on to show that change can be good:

"The decrease in pollinators, and insects in general, is a serious problem," says Sam Scheiner, an NSF SEES program director. "This research shows that we all can help address this problem with a change in how we manage our lawns, and it demonstrates that basic research can directly contribute to societal needs."

So, get ready to have a little more time and energy this mowing season and feel good about it, too!

Think spring, Maine!

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