There is no question: the care of a classic lawn is much more time-consuming and complicated than that of a meadow. Nevertheless, you should not leave a meadow to itself, because on the one hand the diversity of species and on the other hand the beauty and usability of the same suffers.
Meadows must be mowed regularly
The most important maintenance measure is mowing. Meadows - no matter which one it is - should be mowed at least once a year, better two or even three times. Mowing is necessary, otherwise the sensitive and not very assertive meadow flowers and herbs will be replaced by more robust species and will quickly disappear. Basically, mowing is a form of weed control. However, make sure to get the right time for the mowing. To do this, look at the flowering status of the existing meadow flowers and herbs: If most of them have faded, you can mow. Leave the clippings for a few days to allow ripe seeds to fall to the ground. After that, however, the cuttings should definitely be cleared away.
Fertilize meadows - yes or no?
Normal flower meadows, which only stand in place of a lawn, do not actually need to be fertilized - quite the opposite, because fertilization can, depending on the type of meadow, have harmful consequences. Before you start thinking about fertilization, you should analyze your meadow carefully and have the amount of fertilizer tailored to your needs. You can have a soil sample carried out - but you can also take a closer look at the plants growing there. Some meadow flowers thrive on rather rich soil and therefore need nitrogenous fertilizer from time to time (e.g. meadow daisies, dandelions, daisies), while others prefer lean soil. However, the rule of thumb always applies that the more grass grows, the richer the soil is - a poor meadow therefore has the greater variety.
lime meadow
Above all, you should pay attention to so-called indicator plants: dandelions, nettles, clover, couch grass and the like stand for rich soil that needs thinning. Plants such as wood sparrows, wood locust, meadow sorrel, pansies, dog chamomile or rabbit clover thrive in acidic soils in particular. If you notice such growth, you can counteract it by applying natural lime. The best time for liming is spring, although this measure can also be carried out in autumn.
tips and tricks
If you have created a new meadow, you need a little patience. It can take several years for a robust plant community to develop. If possible, you should reseed bare spots immediately so that no unwanted weeds settle and spread.