The Growing Journal

Meadows are often defined as a type of grassland where grasses and flowering plants combine to provide for forage, wildlife habitat and aesthetic appeal.  Developing a plant environment that includes these three valuable attributes holds promise in gaining better value from a property with less cost of maintenance.  While meadows are commonly associated with rural settings these unique and diverse plant environments could be easily adapted to modern urban and suburban landscapes. 

 A new plant study in the turf garden began last year and seeks to consider how best to grow an attractive, productive and cost efficient meadow.  The study is looking at both converting an established lawn area to meadow and planting and establishing a meadow from scratch for various purposes.  Both studies are largely centered on how plants behave with each other in a relatively natural state. 

 One study looking at a lawn to meadow conversion process began in spring of 2009.  This study will continue to observe a previously established and productive stand of Kentucky bluegrass turf over the next three years under a very infrequent (maybe never) mowing regimen.  The area will be studied for plant density reduction during key seasonal periods.  Attempts will be made to seed desirable flowering and leafy plants species in the stand when and if voids appear to bolster eventual plant diversity with a goal of aesthetic appeal. 

 Another meadow study, also beginning in 2009, is looking at planting and establishing new meadows from scratch with a planting of several small (100 sq. ft. or less) plots.  The goal of this study is to establish forage and habitat for wild birds using both annual and perennial plant groups.  This study will also consider the possibility of growing a human forage meadow using broadcast and shallow incorporation plantings of leafy vegetables such as Chard, Radish, Kale, Turnip, and several other forbs. 

 The new meadows study produced useful information in the fall of 2009 particularly relating to possible herbicide reduction/ elimination strategies.  Certain annual plant species effectively out-competed weeds and other vegetation leaving a weed free planting bed ready for next year.  Another observation showed Swiss Chard providing an efficient weed fighting ground cover to a tall sunflower crop, which left the soil weed free in the fall and ready for spring planting.  Sevin top Turnip showed excellent ability to maintain competitive ground covering in the shade and persisted well over the winter. 

 We hope to have these studies in progress for at least three years to watch seasonal effects of the individual plant species and the cooperation or defensive behavior between the plant species.

Mid March I planted about 800 sq ft of landscape bed (tree, shrubs and mulch) with oil seed radish also called fodder radish.  I used the variety Adios.  The object of the planting was to 1) use the extrodinary amount of top growth produced by the species to outcompete spring and summer annual weeds and to 2) provide green living mulch cover that could replace the energy of using shredded mulch.  Prior to planting soil fertility was increased with a broadcast application of 3/4 lb. of N, 1/2 lb. of P and 1/2 lb, of K – per 1000 sq.ft.  The seed was broadcast sowed and “walked-in” for soil contact.  Rainfall has been scarce since the planting so I’ve supplemented a couple times with hose and water-wand irrigation.  Target weeds include Hairy bittercress, Corn speedwell, Purple dead nettle and Sow thistle.  Germination of a few seeds took place about a week later but is now coming on strong with warming temperatures and continuned but infrequent irrigation.  This will be one of several plant observation studies I’ll use in variety of locales this spring and fall to consider the use of plants from the Brassica family along with manay other cover crops for the strategic purpose of controlling weeds in landscape plantings.  The long term goal is to model a plan to reduce / eliminate both pre- and post- emergence herbicides in the landscape.