Garden Pictures Chat Corner

Winniefred, you mow the flower meadow in spring? I have read that you should do it in November and was always doubting whether the annuals can really survive outside then. Therefore, spring is more appealing to me. When do you mow so you don’t catch the early bloomers?

Thought in autumn and leave the cuttings for a few days so that the seeds can fall out once it is dried.

I leave it until spring. This way, insects can settle there to overwinter and the seeds fall down, partly birds will still be able to help themselves in winter. That is why I only mow my wild meadow again in late spring.

No, I don’t have a melon pear! This year I tried a watermelon, but it failed miserably.

The watermelon failed miserably both for me and for a friend as well. It simply didn’t grow and eventually in August it withered completely.

Mowing either only once in summer or twice, then the first time as late as possible, mid/end of June and again depending on the climate zone in September/October. Then it can regrow enough for the winter. And preferably in layers, with a 2-3 week interval so that the entire meadow is not flattened and all insects can escape.

I am also still fascinated by how the vegetation constantly changes, I am curious how it will settle. Last year (1st year) I had everything full of redshank because I noticed it too late... This spring there was a lot of flaxweed, then daisies, poppies, cornflowers, chamomile... after mowing at the end of June came viper's bugloss and lots of yarrow and wild carrot. And chicory in quantities. 2m high. Beautiful in the morning, a sea of blue flowers, bare scrub in the afternoon. The siskins love it, I have a group of four here that feel very comfortable.

Well, I do find it somewhat pornographic