Very interesting Ben. As you know we have a “magic circle” which should have been a wildflower meadow. Many, many £s have been spent on wildflower meadow mix seeds but very few seeds have coped with the vigorous grass, lots of wildflower plug plants have given up and all but the toughest of things have flown the white flag and surrendered to the grass. Meanwhile a few self seeders from elsewhere in the garden are loving it - Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium Pratense) made its own way to the circle and is spreading happily, Scabiosa have also held their own alongside Sorrel, Dock and Red Campions which I’ve grown from seed and planted there. We also get a number of impressive thistles turn up, Ragwort and Knapweed - all welcome.
I’m sure if the magic circle was covered in poppies, cornflowers and chamomile it would look splendid but I actually quite like the less pretty flowers which have made their home there, Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) is actually beautiful when the dewy seedheads gently bob in the breeze and many of the less lovely plants are food sources for moth and butterfly caterpillars.
I don't think No Mow May is a bad thing of course, just that it's become a bit of a… maybe a distraction from more nuanced and arguably more helpful approaches.
I wonder, would the occasional spot mowing or weed whacking (as we say here in the States) help to mimic the effect of natural grqziers in your “meadow” to help certain plant species access more light and space? We often discount the role that ruminants in these “natural” areas or gardens where the deer, elk, and aurochs no long eat and trample and defecate.
Really enjoyed this and am glad you addressed the problem with no mowing May. This is a pic of bitorta, at about 1200m in the Tyrolean Alps. Thought you might enjoy it.
We added veronicastrum fascination and a particularly thuggish pink achillea to our “orchard meadow” as an experiment. The achillea vanished without trace however the veronicastrum has persisted as neat clumps, growing to about two thirds of the size it does in the borders. That is in relatively sunny areas, and i am now turning my attention to some areas of vigorous long grass, more under the shade of the some apple trees. Alliums are a good option to try, as is geranium praetense. I probably won’t use shrubs there, as I like being able to see through under the trees. We also use peonies in the long grass - they have been happily established for nearly 10 years now and are currently flowering their socks off.
I must say that using veronicastrum is an inspired choice.
Interesting that the achillea has gone and that the veronicastrum is behaving differently; just goes to show how plants can adapt, or not, to conditions.
Not referring to just any old bits of long grass as a ‘meadow’ is an interesting idea.
Would it help with creativity and management if we separated the ‘long lawn’ from the ‘meadow’ and treated them as different entities, as opposed to trying to adapt that care and maintenance of one to the scale of the other?
Fantastic article Ben! I've saved it as there is so much to digest here. I have a mini meadow that I'm trying to create in the front of our house. So far I've planted it with bulbs: species tulips, crocus daffs, camassia, alliums, honey garlic. It naturally grows yarrow and ox-eyes. But it's starting to look a bit sad and obviously I don't want to cut it until September. I love some of your suggestions for later summer flowering. This is so useful, thank you.
Very interesting Ben. As you know we have a “magic circle” which should have been a wildflower meadow. Many, many £s have been spent on wildflower meadow mix seeds but very few seeds have coped with the vigorous grass, lots of wildflower plug plants have given up and all but the toughest of things have flown the white flag and surrendered to the grass. Meanwhile a few self seeders from elsewhere in the garden are loving it - Meadow Cranesbill (Geranium Pratense) made its own way to the circle and is spreading happily, Scabiosa have also held their own alongside Sorrel, Dock and Red Campions which I’ve grown from seed and planted there. We also get a number of impressive thistles turn up, Ragwort and Knapweed - all welcome.
I’m sure if the magic circle was covered in poppies, cornflowers and chamomile it would look splendid but I actually quite like the less pretty flowers which have made their home there, Sorrel (Rumex Acetosa) is actually beautiful when the dewy seedheads gently bob in the breeze and many of the less lovely plants are food sources for moth and butterfly caterpillars.
Coarse grass is incredibly challenging, so only the toughest plants can hold out against it.
But some of those tough plants are incredibly beautiful…
Thank you for this very informative piece. You put the NoMowMay into perspective. Lots of great ideas here.🌱
Thank you very much for reading.
I don't think No Mow May is a bad thing of course, just that it's become a bit of a… maybe a distraction from more nuanced and arguably more helpful approaches.
I wonder, would the occasional spot mowing or weed whacking (as we say here in the States) help to mimic the effect of natural grqziers in your “meadow” to help certain plant species access more light and space? We often discount the role that ruminants in these “natural” areas or gardens where the deer, elk, and aurochs no long eat and trample and defecate.
Yes, that’s a brilliant idea.
How to implement it would probably depend on individual circumstances, but totally worth a try.
Wry informative. I love this. Thank you.
Thank you very much.
Really enjoyed this and am glad you addressed the problem with no mowing May. This is a pic of bitorta, at about 1200m in the Tyrolean Alps. Thought you might enjoy it.
Such a great plant mixed in with grasses. Looks much better than it does in the borders.
Oops, can't post a pic here. Will do it withthe restack.
We added veronicastrum fascination and a particularly thuggish pink achillea to our “orchard meadow” as an experiment. The achillea vanished without trace however the veronicastrum has persisted as neat clumps, growing to about two thirds of the size it does in the borders. That is in relatively sunny areas, and i am now turning my attention to some areas of vigorous long grass, more under the shade of the some apple trees. Alliums are a good option to try, as is geranium praetense. I probably won’t use shrubs there, as I like being able to see through under the trees. We also use peonies in the long grass - they have been happily established for nearly 10 years now and are currently flowering their socks off.
I must say that using veronicastrum is an inspired choice.
Interesting that the achillea has gone and that the veronicastrum is behaving differently; just goes to show how plants can adapt, or not, to conditions.
Absolutely bang on Ben. I’m trying to do all sorts in my garden and leaving a wildflower meadow is just one part.
Was discussing this with Anne Wareham a few weeks ago as to whether it should be called a lawn, meadow, or “something else”.
Mine certainly looks more like a border at the moment and has to be managed to ensure the knapweed doesn’t seize control.
It has moments of exceptional beauty though and provides colour, pollen and nectar almost all year around.
Not referring to just any old bits of long grass as a ‘meadow’ is an interesting idea.
Would it help with creativity and management if we separated the ‘long lawn’ from the ‘meadow’ and treated them as different entities, as opposed to trying to adapt that care and maintenance of one to the scale of the other?
Fantastic article Ben! I've saved it as there is so much to digest here. I have a mini meadow that I'm trying to create in the front of our house. So far I've planted it with bulbs: species tulips, crocus daffs, camassia, alliums, honey garlic. It naturally grows yarrow and ox-eyes. But it's starting to look a bit sad and obviously I don't want to cut it until September. I love some of your suggestions for later summer flowering. This is so useful, thank you.