The mowing season begins in the capital. Just like last year, short lawns will be maintained in places where people mainly spend their free time and do sports, as well as in apartment yards. Often mowing will also be done in the dividing lanes of the streets. However, the meadows, which are mowed several times a year, will remain on the banks of the Neris, on the slopes of main streets and in places selected by the elders and residents. A mowing map has been produced this year showing where the short lawn will be maintained and where the meadow is mowed only a few times a year.
Three modes
"We have been looking for a balance for several seasons, how to ensure safety and comfort for the residents and at the same time adapt to climate changes and maintain the direction of sustainability. Using the insights of scientists, we created a mowing map, where the entire territory maintained by the city is divided according to mowing regimes", says Vilnius city municipalities Head of the City Environment Department Gintautas Runovičius. He believes that this year the principles of environmental care will be clearer not only for the companies that look after the city, but also for the residents themselves.
This year, all common areas maintained by the city are divided into three mowing regimes:
- short lawn (5-10 cm long grass is supported) - in parks, squares, multi-apartment courtyards, sports fields, street dividers;
- meadow (mowed 1-3 times a year) - on the slopes of main streets, on the embankment of the Neris River, in undeveloped areas and in areas selected according to special criteria;
- Areas of natural regrowth (not mowed) - on the slopes of certain main streets, in the woods.
For the convenience of residents, two-thirds of the city's territory or 2,5 thousand ha will leave a short lawn. 1,1 thousand ha will be left for meadow mowed several times a year. This area also includes protected urban areas, such as the meadows of the Neries Regional Park. The area of natural regeneration will cover 15 ha.
G. Runovičius says that if residents think that the mowing regime of one or another area needs to be changed, they are invited to contact their ward. Neighbors should agree with each other about changes in the mowing regime in multi-apartment yards.
They will not make hay during the drought
Meadow will be left to grow on the slopes of the streets, in undeveloped areas, on the embankment of the Neris River. 1-1,5 m wide swathes will be mowed on the edges of these areas, next to the roadway, along the walking paths.
Depending on the weather conditions, the meadows will be mowed in the second half of June - before St. John's Day, and a second time - in the second half of August. Mowers will rake the grass in 1-2 weeks - it is not harvested immediately as it takes time for the plant seeds to disperse. From hard surfaces, the grass will be collected on the same day.
If dry weather prevails, the situation will be taken into account and mowing will not be carried out in the city. As long as such weather continues, the lawn will not be mowed, because later such grass will burn out, and the bare black earth will absorb even more sunlight, heat up, and dust will rise from it.
The recommendations of scientists have been taken into account
Natural meadows in cities provide enormous benefits - they are like a green urban conditioner, absorb and retain rainwater, cool the environment, purify and clean the air, prevent the wind from lifting dust and other small particles that irritate the respiratory tract and can be the cause of chronic diseases. According to Vaiva Marozienė, an ecologist and landscape architect of "Vilnius City Parks", meadows also prevent slope erosion and enrich the city's biological diversity. For the formation of the meadow, mowing is necessary and will be done 1-3 times a year.
Areas that will not be mowed at all are called areas of natural regeneration. "In areas of natural regrowth, we allow the formation of a biotope - an environment where animals would naturally live, which is especially important for restoring the ecological balance. However, they will be monitored, and when outbreaks of invasive plants appear, measures are taken," says V. Marozienė.
Areas of natural regrowth will be left on the slopes at Olandų st., Stepona Bator st., Sukilėlių st., Višinskio st., Drujos st., Dunojaus st. Liepkalnio st., Subačiaus st., intersection of Rasų and Dunojaus, intersection of Dzūki and Liepkalnis streets. These areas are monitored for the spread of invasive species and if they are observed in these areas, mowing will begin to prevent the spread of invasive plants.
The mowing regimes of meadows in the city of Vilnius were compiled according to the recommendations of scientists. The team of professionals - botanist, environmental protection specialist Vilma Gudynienė and expert in this field dr. Zigmantas Gudžinskas, who works at the Invasive Species Control Council and the Nature Research Center, carried out the monitoring of Vilnius meadows two years ago. He showed that some of the grasslands in the city are in poor condition due to invasive plants growing in them. In the meadows, annual coneflowers, Canadian and large whips, wrinkled thistles, dense-flowered sorrels, large-leaved lupins are common. Therefore, it is recommended to mow these meadows until the plants mature their seeds, and after cutting, they must be raked and immediately removed for destruction.
Environmental maintenance works are performed by the companies that won the competition: "Ekonovus", "Šilėja", "Ecoservisas", "VSA Vilnius", "Stebulė".
