Grow a Meadow, Large or Small

What is a meadow? Is it a lawn gone feral? Is it a perennial garden gone wild? Or is it something else altogether? More importantly, is a meadow right for your setting? 

I come to this topic with 20 years of personal experience as the caretaker of a meadow on my property. I also assist customers as they start new meadow gardens or improve existing meadow areas. 

Note: This seminar can be presented in formats ranging from one hour to six hours. I will customize it for your group and time requirements.

Outline:

No one can grow an instant meadow, but you can quickly increase your understanding of what it takes to create and maintain one. In this seminar, we explore the definition of a meadow, and how it differs from other “no-mow” and “low-mow” approaches to the landscape. An extensive plant and resource list is included with the presentation. 

Depending on the length of the presentation, topics may include:

  •  What makes a good meadow site?
  •  Site preparation
  •  The roles and relationships of grasses and flowering perennials
  •  How to select plant species
  •  The best uses of seeds and landscape plugs
  •  How to plant
  •  Seasonal issues 
  •  What to expect from your meadow in years one, two, and three.
  • How to manage expectations and reactions from the surrounding community. 

See the four-minute video, "My Accidental Meadow."