Broken mower? Nope. Just adding some diversity.

Last week I wrote about proper watering, kinda hoping I’d jinx this drought. No such luck. Anyone in the market for a rain gauge or umbrella? I wonder if my truck’s wipers still work. Anyway, this week’s post may or not be for you but it’s probably been a while since you’ve cranked up the mower so here we go:

Gardening is most satisfying when you bypass the monotony and routine for a little fun and experimentation. I see gardens like a painter’s canvas – you can fill it with anything you can imagine, and shape your ideas into something bold, unexpected, and inspiring. A mini-meadow in your garden can be more than just an apparent chunk of missed mowing. These collections of different small species and plant communities can contribute to both the health and appearance of the garden positively. Read on to discover how a min-meadow can add to your garden.

Increase Biodiversity

Most gardens strive for uniformity, both in terms of design and plant species. Naturally, this limits the number of plant species you can incorporate in your garden and can make the landscape look a bit one-dimensional. A mini-meadow can introduce dozens of plant species in a compact space in ways that a typical garden won’t.

Attract Wildlife

A mini-meadow that contains a diverse mix of plants and will attract a mix of wildlife. Tall grasses and perennials will attract the likes of hummingbirds and butterflies, among other critters. I’m sure I’ll step on a few toes here but I LIKE seeing bunnies pop out of our little thicket of wildness.

Room to Experiment

Here’s another important benefit of mini-meadows and perhaps, my favorite one – they give you room to experiment with your gardening. For example, you might want to try adding a particular plant to your garden, but you’re not sure how well it will do or how it will look. A mini-meadow gives you a defined space for you to try your experiment. If it works out, you can add more of that species throughout your garden. If it doesn’t work, no big deal – go for other choices.

How to Plant a Mini-Meadow

The principles of traditional gardening apply albeit with a few differences here and there. With that said, I’ll share the essential tips to help you plant and grow your mini meadow.

Choose and prepare your area – This is the most crucial step because the success of your mini meadow will flourish or fail depending on the area you choose. The ideal spot will be clear of competing plants or one where competing plants will lose the battle with your more desired species. Ultimately, you want to remove any unwanted vegetation by digging up weeds or other debris that can compete with the seeds you plant.

Select the Right Mix of Seeds – Whatever plants you intend to add to your garden, make sure that your seed mix is viable. Bargain or discount mixes may contain as little as 10-15% desired species seed. You can find the details on the packaging.Determine Your Purpose – Choose your overall goal for the meadow. For example, you might decide that you want to focus on color or attracting pollinators. Depending on your intent, you will have to choose seeds that will allow you to accomplish this.

Distribute Your Seed Wisely – Make sure to distribute your seeds so that they make good contact with the soil. If anything, you can lightly tamp the seed into the surface with your foot or rake. For more even distribution, you can divide the seeds in half, spreading half walking north to south, and then spreading the other half walking east to west. If it’s a very fine seed you’re spreading you may need to mix it with a bit of sand to help it carry.

 So far, I’ve put most emphasis on seeds. You may also consider digging and dividing some of your existing native perennial plants and using some of these in your mini-meadow to jump-start the process.

Just Add Water – For your seeds to germinate, they will require moisture. You can look out for the weather forecast and seed your chosen area right before it rains, or you can give it a light watering afterward. You should also keep the meadow damp until you see sprouts if you’re experiencing a dry time. On the flip side of this, don’t drown your meadow. If yours is a soil with more clay, you won’t have to water as often since this has a slower percolation rate.

Look out for Seedlings – The amount of time it takes for seedlings to germinate will vary depending on the mix you choose. However, when you see the first sprouts, make sure to lightly water the area until they can compete with nearby plants. Keep in mind that seedlings will flower at different rates, so know ahead of time when your chosen plants will bloom.  Beware of seed mixes that are heavy with annual species. As a rule, you should strive for plants that are long-lived and deep-rooted and many of these take a longer period to get established. Ideally, you’ll have a mix of both annual and perennial species.

Maintain Your Mini-Meadow – Once your mini-meadow has started to bloom, it’s just a matter of maintaining it. Since your first mini-meadow may be located in the middle of an existing patch of lawn, it may be hard to water one without the other. Also, most meadows do NOT need additional fertilizer and may even struggle if the soil is too nutritious. I mow my mini-meadow just twice a year. Once in very early spring and once in late fall (both times on the mower’s greatest height setting). After a couple of years, you should be able to sit back and watch your mini meadow take on a life of its own as it grows.

Till next week…..think rain!

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