Urban Meadow Mowing is 'Soviet Thinking,' Harms Cities, Says Naturalist

Mowing urban meadows is a legacy of "Soviet thinking" and a demonstration of human short-sightedness that ultimately harms cities, according to Lithuanian naturalist and writer Selemonas Paltanavičius.

“

Meadow mowing in the city is a legacy of Soviet thinking.

Paltanavičius argues that leaving urban green spaces un-mown helps keep city temperatures lower, potentially by as much as 8 degrees Celsius, compared to hotter regions. He contrasts this with cities lacking greenery, where temperatures soar. He notes that during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many lawns were left unmown, grasshoppers and butterflies appeared, indicating a return of biodiversity.

He challenges the common perception that neatly mowed lawns are aesthetically pleasing, comparing it to the idea that a beautiful tree is a cut tree. Paltanavičius expresses surprise at the frequent mowing he observes, suggesting a flawed understanding of natural beauty.

“

If we don't mow lawns and cities are at least as green as Vilnius, we will definitely not suffer from those great heatwaves.

Addressing concerns about ticks, Paltanavičius dismisses the notion that mowed areas have fewer ticks. He states that mowing has "absolutely no effect" on tick populations. He recounts a study near Užutrakis Palace in Lithuania where a robot-mowed lawn had ten times more ticks than an adjacent un-mown meadow.

“

You mow or you don't mow – it has absolutely no effect on ticks. I will say immediately, if someone thinks that by mowing lawns there will be no ticks – they are greatly mistaken.

Paltanavičius also points out that urban dwellers rarely venture into tall grass, typically sticking to paths and trails, both in cities and forests. This behavior, he suggests, further reduces the risk of tick encounters, regardless of mowing practices.

“

It turned out that the mowed plot had 10 times more ticks than the meadow.