Funny that the subject of meadows should come up here (see comments on previous thread by Skye and Brian). I was discussing our meadow last week and a piece of it might be used in another garden at Tatton Show this year – more on which later when things are a bit further forwards. By way of a reminder, here’s a couple of pictures of ours when at its peak in June this year. In July, it got too tall to withstand the continual heavy rain and it all collapsed.
Now clearly I am no authority on meadows – I didn’t plant this one and all I’ve done to it so far is had it mowed twice. But here’s what little I do know – all additional contributions greatly welcomed!
Our meadow is a perennial wildflower meadow as distinct from an annual wildflower meadow. So it is not ploughed and does not contain plants such as annual poppy and cornflower.
The secret is low fertility. Perennial wildflower meadows are the result of hay cutting in late summer, followed by overwinter grazing by sheep or cattle. We don’t currently graze our meadow (might do if I can secure the stock) but we cut it at the end of July and I plan to cut it again in early March.
All else I know is that right now it looks just like any other rough old field!
What I don’t know much about is getting them established against grass competition. I wasn’t here for that bit.
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