The name "litter meadow" may seem a bit confusing at first glance, but it derives from the centuries-old form of use of this type of wet meadow: litter meadows have always been mowed once a year, whereby the mowing material is not used as animal feed - it is unsuitable for this - but from litter was and is used for the cattle stalls. Traditionally, mowing is only carried out in late autumn/winter.

What is a litter meadow?

Scattered meadows are among the typical wet meadows that are mainly found in the vicinity of bodies of water and on moor and clay soils. The rather meager, nutrient-poor soil is characteristic. Litter meadows are among the most species-rich natural areas in Central Europe and not only accommodate an average of around 70 different plant species per square meter, but also numerous small animals and birds, especially amphibians and ground-breeding animals. Whinchats, lapwings, the tiny corncrake as well as reed buntings and marsh warblers are just as much at home here as common frogs and moor frogs - provided the ground is moist enough and offers sufficient hiding places with dense vegetation.

Litter meadows are very species-rich

Litter meadows are always located on nutrient-poor soil, with the specific plant species found differing from the location and soil conditions. The typical plant species of a litter meadow include the various types of moor grass, which is why this type of meadow is often referred to as moor grass meadow. In addition to numerous plants, birds and amphibians, rare butterflies also find their preferred food here. Due to the very limited possibilities for agricultural use, litter meadows - like all wet meadows - are in sharp decline, which in turn means that many animals and plants adapted to this habitat have become rare or are already threatened with extinction.

Typical plants of a litter meadow

At this point, only a few characteristic plant species should be listed, the actual variety is of course many times higher. Furthermore, the actual occurrence of certain plants depends on the location, since some plants are only native to the foothills of the Alps and others only to the lowlands.

  • different moor grass species
  • different types of rushes
  • Caraway-leaved Silge (Selinum carvifolia)
  • Common Devil's Bit (Succisa pratensis)
  • Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
  • Globeflower (Trollius europaeus)
  • Meadow knotweed (Polygonum bistorta)
  • Milkweed gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea)
  • Bloodroot (Potentilla erecta)
  • Edge leek (Allium angulosum)
  • Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)

Create and maintain a litter meadow

Naturally moist soil (e.g. on a lake, pond - also a garden pond - a stream or river) is suitable for laying out a new litter meadow, if possible in a depression. The water collects here and thus creates the necessary conditions. If, on the other hand, you want to create an artificial litter meadow in your garden pond, you should seal the bottom with a thick layer of loam or clay. Otherwise, the floor is prepared as described:

  • Remove all trees and shrubs.
  • Mow the lawn as short as possible.
  • Remove the clippings.
  • Dig up the area thoroughly or plow it if it is large enough.
  • If necessary, work in sand and/or lime to thin the soil.
  • Loosen the soil with a rake / rake or with a harrow.
  • Spread a seed mixture with litter meadow plants that are typical for your area.

tips and tricks

You can obtain the appropriate seeds either from specialized online retailers or through what is known as hay mulching. You bring fresh hay with ripe seeds from litter meadows in your area to the area to be sown and leave it there over the winter.

IJA

Category:

Herbs