Many people prefer a carpet-like lawn in their garden, which, however, requires a lot of maintenance. Lawns need to be mowed, fertilized and watered regularly. In addition, lawn owners must ensure that the green area is not overgrown with moss or weeds. Anyone who does not want to do this work prefers an easy-care, natural flower meadow.

Species-rich meadow attracts many pest controllers

Anyone who chooses a meadow instead of a lawn kills several birds with one stone - literally. Because meadows with many different types of blooming flowers and herbs attract numerous insects and small animals, which put an end to the pests in your garden in a completely natural and non-chemical way. Meadows are home to bees, bumblebees, butterflies, hedgehogs, birds etc. and are therefore necessary for the preservation of biodiversity. Quite apart from the fact that such a sea of flowers is wonderful to look at in summer and you don't have to do much work with it.

Small blooming oasis in the middle of a lawn

Nevertheless, a meadow naturally also has disadvantages, because on the one hand it cannot be mowed with a conventional lawnmower - like a lawn - and on the other hand it is also home to small animals that the gardener doesn't really like to see: mice, moles and the like feel here as well well. But you don't have to convert the entire lawn into a meadow, instead it can also be enough to convert just a small part - ergo as a blooming highlight in the middle of a green sea of lawn.

How to turn your lawn into a meadow

A lawn can be transformed into a flower meadow with little effort. Please note, however, that meadows prefer poor soil (the poorer the soil, the better herbs and flowers thrive - dandelions, nettles, etc. romp around on rich soil) and a sunny location. Proceed as follows for the conversion:

  • Stop fertilizing the lawn in the previous year.
  • Scarify the lawn thoroughly the following fall or spring.
  • Then spread an earth-sand mixture on rather greasy subsoil.
  • From May, sow the seeds for meadows.

Do not use fertilization in the further care of the meadow. The more you fertilize the meadow, the more competitive plants assert themselves and biodiversity suffers. Only intensively used meadow areas (e.g. for haymaking or grazing) should be fertilized from time to time. In the first year after sowing, there is no mowing, in the following year mowing should finally take place in the second half of June.

tips and tricks

Pay attention to the quality of the seed: Most commercial meadow flower mixes contain only a few annual flowers that will quickly disappear from the scene. Instead, it is better to buy individual bags of seeds of your choice and create your own desired mix.

Category:

Herbs