Meadow Maintenance

In early September 2007, soon after the start of term, the whole area was strimmed down to about 2 inches tall. This is the correct management culture and must be repeated every year. Cutting the meadow after the flowers have finished is essential to deter vigorous weeds. It also allows the flowers to shed their seeds which may grow next year. Removing the cuttings is important, as it takes away nutrients which were originally in the soil. Meadow plants need low fertility soil  – again, it favours them against vigorous weeds. Further selective weeding and clearing was done in Spring 2008, followed by re-seeding with a meadow and cornfield annual seed mix. This has produced a very colourful display again this year, though with far less garden annuals now.