Until about 600 years ago - ergo in Europe's deep Middle Ages - the German landscape consisted mostly of forests, alluvial forests and wet meadows. These natural biotopes were finally pushed out by the ever-increasing human population, because they needed arable and pasture land to secure food. Even today, the very species-rich wet meadows are highly endangered, as they fall victim to the straightening of rivers and drainage and conversion into arable and pasture areas.
What is a wet meadow?
Wet meadows are mainly found in the vicinity of streams or rivers, on lakes and in depressions where the subsoil is damp to wet - the soils of these very species-rich biotopes are used to occasional flooding. They were created from the Middle Ages through agricultural use as mowing and grazing land and still require a caring, human hand today. Otherwise, this meadow, which is more overgrown with herbaceous plants, would quickly be populated by tall perennials and bushes and quickly turn into a floodplain forest. In agriculture, wet meadows are mainly used for hay production, but are rather unsuitable for grazing, etc. They are also synonymously referred to as marsh meadows, although the vegetation of the same can sometimes differ greatly, depending on the degree of soil moisture.
Typical wet meadow plants
Depending on the composition of the soil and the resulting vegetation, three different types of wet meadows are distinguished:
1. Marsh Marigold Meadows
The marsh marigold, which blooms in bright yellow, thrives above all on nutrient-rich soil, which can also dry out in summer due to a lower groundwater level. In addition to the marsh marigold (Caltha palustris), plants such as
- Globeflower (Trollius europaeus)
- Great burnet (Sanguisorba officinalis)
- Meadow bittercress (Cardamine pratensis)
- Cuckoo campion (Lychnis flos-cuculi)
- and broad-leaved orchid (Dactylorhiza majalis), a native species of orchid.
If used for agriculture, this type of wet meadow should be mowed and fertilized regularly.
2. Moor grass meadows
In contrast to the mostly lush flowering marsh marigold meadows that thrive on nutrient-rich soil, typical purple moor grass meadows are mainly found on rather nutrient-poor, periodically wet soils. Possible locations are drained bogs. The vegetation is strong with different types of Moor grass as well as flowers like
- Milkweed gentian (Gentiana asclepiadea)
- Bloodroot (Potentilla erecta)
- Siberian iris (Iris sibirica)
- or Devil's Bit (Succisa pratensis)
embossed. Moor grass meadows should not be fertilized if possible, otherwise the plants characteristic of this type will decline.
3. Burning umbel meadows
In Germany, this type of wet meadow is mainly found in the river valleys of the large rivers Elbe, Havel and Oder. The typical vegetation consists of
- Marsh stinging umbel (Cnidium dubium)
- Meadow Silge (Silaum silaus)
- God's Grace Herb (Gratiola officinalis)
- or the swamp vetchling (Lathyrus palustris)
marked. Brenndoldenwiesen are also known as river valley meadows and have to tolerate alternating flooding and drying out.
Create a wet meadow
Of course, you can also create a wet meadow yourself. A naturally moist location is ideal for such a project, but this is usually drained. On normally dry garden soil, on the other hand, you must proceed as follows:
- First, remove the top layer of soil along with the short-cut planting.
- Dig a shallow hollow or choose a spot in a dip.
- Fill this hollow with loam or clay and then - depending on the type of meadow - with nutrient-rich soil or a soil-sand mixture.
- Apply a special seed mix for wet meadows.
tips and tricks
Wet meadows must be mowed regularly - at least twice a year - so that the biodiversity is preserved and the area does not become overgrown. Mowing is particularly important in early autumn.