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.