Establishing a meadow in your yard is an eco-friendly act that provides relief not only to nature but also to people. If you don't want to change the entire lawn area, you can establish a meadow in a less used area. Even a small area dedicated to meadow plants helps support biodiversity. At the same time, you save time and money, for example, as you don't have to mow and water the entire lawn area.
Five reasons to establish a meadow:
1. No need to mow the grass, saving time, money and effort: Meadow care only requires one to two mowings per year.
2. Lower watering requirements compared to lawn: Meadow plants tolerate drought quite well.
3. Beautiful, seasonal appearance: You can use the flowers throughout the summer by collecting them in a vase or making a flower wreath out of them.
4. Increase in biodiversity: It is estimated that one in four of Finland's endangered species live in meadows or other traditional environments. Establishing a meadow therefore helps many endangered plant and insect species and thus increases biodiversity.
5. Reduction of ground wear: Meadow plants prevent soil erosion by binding the soil in place with their deep-reaching roots.
Establishing a meadow
The best time to establish a meadow is usually in the fall before frost or early spring. The soil is prepared by turning, after which weeds and roots are removed. The area should not be fertilized, as meadow flowers are plants of harsh habitats. Once the soil has been prepared, it is time to sow. The seed mixture should be domestic, and it is good to choose it according to the growing location, as different species thrive in different conditions. The seeds are placed in a bucket and mixed with sand to make sowing easier. The seeds are lightly pressed into the soil, but they are not covered.
Establishing a meadow on the lawn
Establishing a meadow in place of a lawn requires some effort. Flowers cannot grow under weeds and grass, which is why it is not a good idea to sow seeds directly on top of the lawn. It is a good idea to completely remove the old lawn from the area where you want the meadow. You can replace it with a new, sandy growing medium, about 10 cm thick.
There is also an easier way to turn a lawn into a meadow, but it requires more time and patience. First, watering and fertilizing the area is stopped and sand is added to the topsoil to deplete the soil. The vegetation is mowed a few times during the summer. It is important to always collect the mowing debris so that the soil gradually becomes more barren. Gradually, the grass plants begin to decrease and, correspondingly, the flower plants get more space. With this method, the meadow takes a few years to develop.
Read more about establishing a meadow on the ProAgria website. (opens in new window)
Meadow care
After establishment, the meadow must also be maintained by mowing. This should usually be done once a year in late summer or early autumn, depending on when the plant seeds have had time to mature. If the meadow is in a fertile location, it is worth mowing twice during the growing season. In this case, the first mowing should be done after Midsummer. A scythe is suitable as a working tool; a string trimmer should not be used to prevent the plant stems from being crushed. After mowing, the area is left alone for a few days so that the seeds have time to fall to the ground. After this, the grass and flower stems can be raked away. The idea of mowing and collecting plant matter is to prevent the area from becoming eutrophic.