In the far field at the south end of CBG, about 5,000 square feet of lawn, we installed a wildflower meadow. The turf was removed in 2 large islands within the space, keeping turf grass pathways around the perimeter and through the center. This will reduce the amount of mowing needed and provide critical habitat for pollinators and other beneficial insects as well as the birds, mammals and amphibians that rely on them. Seeded in the fall of 2023, the meadow will take about 3 years to fully develop, but we anticipate it to become an ecological asset, an attraction to the garden as well as a model for landowners and municipalities.
A meadow is defined as a plant community composed of mainly herbaceous perennials and grasses. Once established, a wildflower meadow provides important ecosystem services and habitat for wildlife while also being an environmentally friendly, low maintenance part of the landscape. Establishment, however, is not as simple as scattering flower seeds on a site or ceasing to mow an area of lawn. Proper site preparation is critical to successful wildflower seed germination and establishment.
Our Process
We modeled our project on the research of a few universities in the northeast region. Removal of existing vegetation can be accomplished in several ways – tarping, herbicide treatments, sod removal, repeated tilling, or simply hand pulling. Since it is a relatively large area, we chose to have the sod removed by machine. By removing the sod to a depth of about 4 inches the bulk of the weed seed bank in the soil is also removed, providing a less competitive environment for wildflower seedling establishment.
We chose a wildflower seed mix from a reputable seed supplier that matched the site conditions and contained native plant species that are deer resistant and will have a succession of bloom from early spring through fall. Fall planting is recommended for perennial flower seeds because they require cold stratification in order to break dormancy. A light layer of straw mulch was added to hold moisture and conceal the seeds from birds.
Management
It can take up to 3 years for a wildflower meadow planting to become a fully functioning plant community. Some wildflower seeds may not germinate their first spring, some plants will not bloom in their first season. Monitoring for and removal of undesirable weed species throughout the growing season is required maintenance for the first few years. Mowing or cutting of taller, more aggressive wildflower species to a height of 8 inches midway through the growing season may be needed to give slower growing species a chance in the first years. After establishment, a wildflower meadow should only need to be mowed every 3 years in order to keep woody vegetation in check. The meadow should be considered a natural area and plant stems and leaves should remain to provide food and shelter for wildlife as well as storm water interception, soil nutrients and organic matter. A meadow is dynamic and will evolve and change over time. We encourage you to visit the meadow throughout the seasons to witness how it may change and evolve, and the creatures that are attracted to it.
For more information on wildflower meadows please visit:
Establishing a Wildflower Meadow from Seed – University of New Hampshire Extension
Lawn to Meadow Project – SUNY ESF
https://www.esf.edu/research/restorationscience/lawn-to-meadows.php
