Pollinator-Aware Yard Care

• Pollinators help to put food on the table. They fertilize flowers that develop into food for both people and animals.   

• 30% of all Michigan crops and 90% of Michigan wild plants rely on pollinators (Michigan Department of Transportation​). Worldwide, 35% of crops are reliant on pollinator activity (Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development). 

• The USDA estimates that crops dependent on pollination are worth >$18B/year.  

• Native plan​t species help to increase stormwater infiltration to improve water quality and avoid flooding, as compared to turfgrass.  

• Native plan​​​​t species don't rely on lawn mowers for maintenance, meaning you'll cut down on​ the noise pollution and soil compaction caused by lawn mowers, as well as the carbon emissions of fossil fuel-based lawn mowers.

• Supporting a wide variety of pollinators and native plants increases biodiversity​, which is essential to healthy ecosystems and the services they provide.

​Nati​​​ve Plants

Turf​​grass

• Reduce th​e are​a of mowed turfgrass in your yard by extending your maintained garden beds​​ or by planting native groundcover in place of turfgrass (check out Natural Area Preservation (NAP)'s list of native grasses, rushes, and sedges for alternative groundcover ideas). 

• Reducin​g the area of mowed turfgrass around the base of your trees can help protect the trees from mechanical damage from mowers.

• Research has shown​ that reducing mowing frequency can increase biodiversity and support pollinator species. Mow turfgrass portions of your yard less frequently and set your mower to cut grass t​​o a tal​ler height. Taller grass can provide more habitat for pollinator species and may be better able to withstand drought conditions. In addition, less frequent mowing can allow for pollinator-friendly plant species mixed into the turfgrass to bloom and provide a food source for pollinators. Please note that cutting grass height down by more than about one third to one half of the blade can damage the grass.​

• As an alternative to reducing the area of mowed turfgrass in your yard, try adding a clover mix to your turfgrass areas - this will add diversity that benefits pollinators and will add nutrients to your soil, helping to make your turfgrass healthier without chemical inputs!  

Pe​​sticid​​es

• Reduce​​​ or avoid chemical applications, especially of neonicotinoid insecticides. To avoid adding plants pre-treated with these chemicals, ask your nursery before purchasing any plants. Chemicals can harm native plant and pollinator species, in addition to leaching into our soil, groundwater, and waterways. Learn more about chemical-free pest management solutions on our Integrated Pest Management page. 

• ​Use non-toxic gardening methods. Herbicides can reduce pollinator food sources, and fungicides can be toxic to pollinators. If you see ​some holes in your plant leaves, that may be a good sign of caterpillar foraging. Watch for the next stages of caterpillars and chrysalis on plants, followed by butterflies! Stop and think before you spray anything outdoors.​​
  

• Neo​​​nicotinoids are found in the following active ingredients:  acetamiprid, clothianidin, dinotefuran, imidacloprid, nitenpyram, nithiazine, thiacloprid, thiamethoxam, cycloxaprid, imidaclothiz, paichongding, sulfoxaflor, guadipyr, and flupyradifurone. ​
  

Outdo​or Lighting

• Pollination happens at night as well as during the daytime. You can help nocturnal pollinators (such as moths) and improve bird safety by reducing your light pollution.​​
  

• Turn off exterior lights when possible, and shade windows in lighted rooms at night. If y​​ou must use outdoor lights, use dim, shielded, downward pointing, motion activated lights, with a warm yellow-red color temperature. All of these options reduce light-induced distraction of night time insects, birds, and other animals.​
  

• All exterior lighting must adhere to Ann Arbor's Unified Development Code, Chapter 55, Section 5:25​. ​​Learn more about the City's Outdoor Lighting Ordinance here.
  

Miscellaneous

• Use electric, rather than gas-powered, lawn care equipment to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The City of Ann Arbor prohibits the use of gas-powered leaf ​blowers from June 1st to September 30th of each calendar year. Beginning January 1st, 2028, the use of gas-powered leaf blowers will be prohibited year-round. ​

• ​Use si​gnage to help communicate the yard care​​​​ practices you use and their associated​ benefits with neighbors and others who may be admiring your pollinator-friendly yard. Interested in receiving a yard sign to let others know you’re part of the Pollinator-Aware Yard Care program? Find a link to sign up for yard signs and email updates in our “Get Involved” section below. Please note that yard signs may not be placed on the lawn extension, per Chapter 55, Section 5.24.3(H). For guidelines on sign placement, please view our ​Guide to Temporary Signs in the City of Ann Arbor. ​

• ​Consider keeping trimmed borders near sidewalks to keep the walkway clear and send a visual cue that any tall vegetation in your yard is intentional. 

• ​​Ensure​ all of your plantings adhere to Ann Arbor City Code, Chapter 40, Sections 3:15 (Lawn extension and city right-of-way) and 3:16 (Vegetation on private property). 

• Tell your landlord or HOA to create pollinator-friendly habitats and maintenance policies.​
  

• ​​Share this webpage w​ith your friends, family, and neighbors. ​​

• ​​Keep in min​d that it doesn’t have to be all or nothing! Pick and choose the yard care practices that work best for you - or identify sections of your yard in which to adopt these practices. 
  

For Ren​​​​ters

• Downl​oad this template email that can be sent to your landlord or property manager to encourage them to adopt PAYC practices - you can customize this email to your specific concerns, with example language provided for a few of the main concerns you may have!​​

L​​​ists of native plant sp​ecies can be found on NAP’s Native Plants page - we recommend checking out the Native Perennials and Native Grasses, Rushes, and Sedges lists in particular when planting to support pollinators. See “Additional Resources” below for examples of local retail sources of native plants.  

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^{Wild Geran​ium (left) and foamflower (right). Images courtesy of ​​Stephanie Brundage and Albert F.W. Vick, Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower ​Center.}

When planting​ native species, please keep in mind the need for species that are height-appropriate in our urban environment, specifically in lawn extensions and right-of-way areas. All of your plantings should adhere to Ann Arbor City Code, Chapter 40, Sections 3:15 (Lawn extension and city right-of-way) and 3:16 (Vegetation on private property). Please select shorter plants for your lawn extension, as tall plants can create safety hazards for pedestrians and bicyclists. Please grow tall species of plants on your private property (between the house and the sidewalk), in cultivated beds, or as part of a planned natural landscape, rather than in the lawn extension. Examples of plants that may become too tall for lawn extensions include: 

• Sunflowers

• Goldenrod (some species)

• Purple Coneflower

• Joe-Pye Weed

• Culver’s Root

• Cup Plant

• Big Bluestem

• Tomato plants

• Some ornamental grasses

• Cosmos ​