Gourmet Gardener: Meadow Magic
Tara Kate Linnane
The importance of attracting biodiversity into our own spaces has become widely acknowledged more recently. People are becoming familiar with the decline in some pollinator species and projects are in full swing around the nation, and schools as well as communities are taking action. There are a number of ways biodiversity can be enhanced – for example, having a no-mow section of your lawn at home to allow the grasses to grow and other species to flourish, creating habitats for different animals and insects.
Another easy method is to allocate a patch to wild flowers, which will attract pollinators.
In my own garden I have designated areas that we leave wild to encourage wildlife. This year, I had an opportunity to create a large meadow area on a patch of land that was full of weeds, and due to a different project had to be dug up and levelled. This was my chance to create something wonderful and visual to be enjoyed by my family, and most importantly to be enjoyed by the bees and butterflies.
As the meadow is now slowly fading from its once vibrant colourful glory, I can reflect on how joyful it was to witness the hive of activity that was our summer sanctuary. It also gives me something to look forward to next year, as different perennial wildflower varieties will take centre stage.
I am sharing this with you in the hopes of inspiring you to create your own wildflower meadow.
No matter what space you have, whether it’s a meadow in a pot, a small patch, or a large area, the same methods apply. The first thing is to decide on what type of wildflowers you would like. The candy coloured scenes of poppies and cornflowers are wonderful, but they are annuals and therefore rely on self-seeding for a display the following year. That tends to result in a much lower density of colour. I decided to go for a native perennial mix and added in some poppies and cornflowers for the first year.
There are two ways to create a meadow: the first is to clear the area of grass and weeds, as they will compete with the flowers. Then spread your wildflower seed mix evenly, and according to the instructions from wherever you purchased the seed.
After some research, I sourced mine online from an Irish company.
The soil does not need to be fertile and, in fact, the seeds will germinate better on poor soil. The seed can be raked in, covered gently and then wait to watch the magic unfold.
The second method is to plant plugs into an area. Take your packet of seeds and sow them into individual plugs. Once you have established plants, you can plant them out into your wildflower area. The advantage of this method is that you can decide where you want each plant to be rather than have a lucky dip. It can be time consuming, so this method would only be effective for a smaller area. To create a mini wildflower patch with pots, simply sow the seed and keep watered.
Autumn is the best time to sow a meadow as it allows the plants to establish faster and flower earlier in the summer. My opportunity only arose in March, so I went with it. Early spring sowing means your meadow will be in full bloom from mid-summer.
There is one secret ingredient you will need to ensure your wildflower meadow is maintained for years to come – yellow rattle. This species of wildflower prevents grasses from growing in the same area and allows the wildflowers to become well established and provide you with a pollinator haven.
Meadows and grassy strips make the perfect habitats for small mammals and insects. Once the time comes to strim them back for the winter, please make sure to check the area for sheltering wildlife before you do so.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Tara Kate Linnane is passionate about sustainability and growing all things edible. Together with her husband Barry, she has embarked on a journey of designing edible spaces and getting others started on their gardening adventures.
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