Mowing

Zoetermeer is a green city and we want to keep it that way, but it must also remain a safe city. This way the city is attractive to people and animals. In our mowing policy we take biodiversity and safety into account extensively.

Biodiversity

A city with many different plants and animals is healthy for humans. For example, plants and animals provide clean air, fresh water and pollination of plants that provide us with food. In short, more biodiversity makes for a healthier city. To ensure that there is always enough food and living space for plants and animals, we mow more often in one place than in another. We also perform a flora and fauna scan before mowing. This checks whether there are valuable animals or plants in an area and if so, mows around it.

Roadsides and lawns

How often we mow depends on the area. So it could be that on one side of the park a lawn has been mowed, but a verge on the other side of the park has not. 

Lawns, such as grass fields and playgrounds, are mowed regularly. We deliberately allow verges to become overgrown. We mow most verges only twice a year and we do this in phases. This means that not everything is mowed at the same time. In this way, we try to achieve the longest possible flowering period. In addition, we also skip certain parts that remain standing all summer. This creates seeds that ensure that the flowers bloom again the following year. This gives native plants and flowers more space to grow and animals, such as insects, more space to live. 

Not mowing is not an option

If we were not to mow, the verge would become overgrown. This means that only grass species would be able to grow there and native plants, such as the wild orchid, would disappear. We want to prevent this. In addition, by mowing we create a second flowering round. Places that have been mowed in one phase will be in bloom again after about six weeks. It may seem as if nature disappears by mowing, but this is not the case. By mowing and not doing this everywhere at the same time, we ensure a longer flowering period and there is longer food and shelter for animals and insects. 

Safety

We also take safety into account. In places where tall grass impairs visibility in traffic, mowing is done more often. We also call these places visual angles, for example at intersections, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings. Mowing more often at visual angles is important for safety and is not a problem for nature. Because mowing is done less in other places, there is still enough living space for animals.

When and how often is mowing done?

When we mow depends on the season, the weather and the needs of different places in the city. In the Annual maintenance program you can see when you can expect mowing activities.

Grass awns

A grass awn can easily end up in the fur, nose, ears, eyes and toes of your pet and crawl into the body. This can cause painful complaints. The municipality cannot stop the growth of grass awns, but we do take measures to limit them. In addition to walking paths that run along tall grass, we mow a strip of one meter wide, more often and shorter than in other places. This reduces the chance of grass awns. The mowers that we use here pulverize the grass, which means that grass awns cause less nuisance. This means that the cuttings do not have to be cleared away.

What can you do about grass awns?

  • Be careful when your pet walks through grass.
  • Keep your pet on a leash.
  • Check your pet if it has been outside.
  • If you see a grass awn, remove it with tweezers or go to the vet.

Want to know more?

Do you have a question about our mowing policy? Please see the answers to the most frequently asked questions below. Is your question not listed? Please contact us. You can file a report via Reporting residential and living environment (public space) .

Why don't you mow everything at once?

If we do this, we will take away the habitat of many animals at once. This will ultimately cause the number of plants, flowers and animals in Zoetermeer to decrease significantly, which is bad for the city and its residents. That is why mowing everywhere at the same time is not an option and we will mow in phases.

Is mowing really necessary? You can just let nature take its course, right?

Yes, mowing is really necessary. By mowing we give space to many different types of plants. If we do not mow, these types cannot grow and eventually only grass remains. Mowing ensures that fewer nutrients enter the soil. This makes the soil less fertile and this stimulates the growth of wild plants. By mowing we actually give nature a helping hand.

Doesn't tall grass lead to unsafe situations?

In places where visibility is important, extra mowing is done to keep the grass low. This is the case, for example, at intersections, roundabouts and pedestrian crossings. Along cycle and walking paths, usually only the strip directly next to it is mowed, the so-called 'meter strips'. This allows you to cycle and walk comfortably and there is also room for nature.

How do you take animals and insects into account when mowing?

Before we mow tall rough grass, we do a so-called flora and fauna scan: we thoroughly inspect the grass for protected plants and animals. If they are present, we skip the spot. In addition, we mow in sections. This gives insects the space to move to other strips where there are still plenty of flowers.

Why are you mowing while there are still flowers?

We often mow at the beginning of summer. At that time, most of the spring flowers have finished blooming. By mowing at this time, we give summer flowers a chance and we get a second round of blooming. This way, people and animals can enjoy the flowers for longer.

Why was there no cleaning up after mowing?

We do this consciously. By leaving the mown grass for a few days, (flower) seeds can remain. This gives grass, herbs and flowers the chance to grow again. By only clearing the mown grass after a few days, we contribute to the biodiversity of the city.