It's time to cut back your meadow.
Cutting your meadow back every autumn will help prevent vigorous grasses from out-competing the wildflowers.
1. Mow your perennial meadow
Cut to around 10cm and leave the clippings on the meadow for a few days to dry. This is best done with your mower on its highest setting, or with a scythe or a strimmer. Small areas can be cut with hand shears. Leaving the clippings will allow seeds in the dry seed heads to fall to the ground where they may germinate and become the next generation of blooms.
2. Rake off
Rake the clippings off vigorously and remove them. For larger areas use a chain harrow. With each year you remove the clippings, the fertility of the soil will reduce. This will allow wildflowers to flourish. Raking will expose small areas of bare soil where wildflower seeds can germinate.
3. Sow Yellow Rattle
Sow yellow rattle seeds to reduce grass growth in your meadow. These need to be exposed to the cold months of winter to germinate in the spring.
Cutting your meadow back every autumn will help prevent vigorous grasses from out-competing the wildflowers.
1. Mow your perennial meadow
Cut to around 10cm and leave the clippings on the meadow for a few days to dry. This is best done with your mower on its highest setting, or with a scythe or a strimmer. Small areas can be cut with hand shears. Leaving the clippings will allow seeds in the dry seed heads to fall to the ground where they may germinate and become the next generation of blooms.
2. Rake off
Rake the clippings off vigorously and remove them. For larger areas use a chain harrow. With each year you remove the clippings, the fertility of the soil will reduce. This will allow wildflowers to flourish. Raking will expose small areas of bare soil where wildflower seeds can germinate.
3. Sow Yellow Rattle
Sow yellow rattle seeds to reduce grass growth in your meadow. These need to be exposed to the cold months of winter to germinate in the spring.