Lawnmeadow: August

I finished mowing the two remaining patched of lawn at the beginning of the month, collecting the seeds of the Pyramidal Orchid frst, so I could sow them once the final mow of the year was done in September.

THe meadow at this tome of the year is all about preparation. Preparation for next year; cutting the grass and other plants, raking the grass and then scarifying the thatch, so to leave bare patches.

I have seeds to scatter when the time comes; some Yellow Rattle, but also some other new stuff too. Will be intesting if they come up too.

Once the meadow has been cut, it looks pretty much like another lawn we can see from our back windows, except the manic gardner two doors down who has a snooker table for a lawn, and at times mows it most days. It is possible he mows his lawn more in a week more than I do our in a year.

There was one last surprise that the lawnmeadow threw up for me: in the middle of the month, I was mowing and in a corner too narrow for the mower to reach, there were three or four harebells, left over from the plugs we got two or three years ago. Undisturbed, they have thrived.

And this thows up the last point, really. To have a lawnmeadow, the decision is to when have most of the plants, fowers and grasses bloom; either early or late spring. May to June, or June to July. As tempting it would be to have some wildflowers like field scabious, it would mean now mowing until September or later, and in the end, you have to make a choice of when you want the best show.

This is the last of the meadow blogs this year, I hope you have enjoyed them. So, until next year. Take care.