Over time, the lush plant growth in a meadow can decrease; instead of many colorful flowers and herbs, there are suddenly only a few plant species left. For this reason, it makes sense to reseed meadows.
How can I successfully reseed a meadow?
To reseed a meadow, first mow the lawn, loosen the soil and distribute the seeds evenly. Work the seeds into the soil and keep the area evenly moist to promote growth.
Why does reseeding meadows make sense?
As a rule, meadows should be able to maintain themselves by allowing the various plants to sow themselves and multiply. However, this is not always possible because, on the one hand, birds and other small animals like to eat the seeds and, on the other hand, self-sowing can be impaired by premature mowing. Another reason why reseeding becomes necessary can be the use of the wrong - because unsuitable - seeds for a new plant. Many commercial seed mixes only contain annual plants, which often turn out to be not particularly successful in terms of natural propagation - especially if they are not even native plants. Therefore, when choosing seeds, make sure to purchase a colorful mix of native, perennial flowers and herbs.
This is how you can reseed your meadow
Reseeding the meadow is best done in spring, when frosty nights are no longer expected - i.e. H. A sunny day in April or May is the perfect time for such a project. Depending on the type of plant, you can also sow the seeds in June. In any case, consult the weather report beforehand to get a forecast for the following days; In addition, the ground should definitely be frost-free. Aside from sun and warmth, the seedlings need water, especially in the first four weeks, and must not be allowed to dry out under any circumstances. This could negatively impact their growth. Therefore, keep the re-sown areas evenly moist, but without flooding them.
Step-by-step instructions for reseeding the meadow
The following instructions will make reseeding the meadow easier:
- Mow the meadow and fill up any hollows or depressions with sand or soil.
- If necessary, straighten the meadow.
- Now the meadow is scarified or harrowed so that the soil is loosened up.
- Spread the seeds over a wide area.
- It is better to take too many seeds than too few, so that a dense plant growth is created.
- Work the seeds well into the soil, e.g. B. by driving over it with a grass roller.
- Keep the newly sown area evenly moist.
Tips & Tricks
Another method of reseeding is so-called hay mulching, where you bring fresh clippings from another meadow (with flowers and herbs ready for seed) to your newly sown meadow and lay it out there. In this case too, the soil must be thoroughly loosened beforehand.
