How & when to cut back a wildflower meadow

Knowing how and when to cut back a wildflower meadow is essential for a successful wildlife garden. Garden Ninja shows you three methods of cutting back a meadow whether its an annual or perennial meadow. With top tips and garden hacks to get the most out of your wildlife garden.
#wildflower #gardendesign #gardening #wildlife #gardenanswer
Want to find out tricks and tips that I use in my own garden? Then watch this guide and subscribe to my KZbin channel for more garden design hints, tips and hacks!
Why not visit my blog for hundreds of gardening guides? www.gardenninja.co.uk
Presented by Garden Ninja, Manchesters Garden Designer and blogger Lee Burkhill. He's an RHS Award-winning Chelsea garden designer and expert panellist on BBC Radio Manchester's Saturday morning garden phone in.
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[@lj407]

Another good one, Lee! We have this bookmarked these videos as we now have our mini-meadow started: marked out, grass cut back, some seeds and bulbs planted , and more perennial wf seeds ordered for spring . Right now it looks like a fairy circle, lol. We are really looking foward to seeing our (feral) honeybees enjoy it. Looking foward to more updates on yours!

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks LJ. Great to hear from you and your mini meadow plans. I’m glad the videos are helping you. There’s also a blog here I’ve written for wild flower seed sowing which may help. All the best and happy gardening! Lee www.gardenninja.co.uk/how-to-create-a-wildflower-meadow-the-easy-way/

[@Blomhaus]

Thank you 😊

[@WildernessTamed]

Good of you to mention using a scythe. On half an acre that's an easy task. Also a June - July cut allows for butterflies like meadow browns, ringlets and day flying moths to lay their eggs on the freshly mown areas, as their caterpillars prefer short, sweet, fresh growth. I'm a scyther, so obviously I'm going with that as the only true way to manage a meadow traditionally. Plenty videos of me doing so on my channel, if anyone reads this far. A half acre could be done in one go within a couple of hours, but as you mention, mowing in sections over a period of a few weeks is much better.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Wilderness. Great to hear your experiences to help other Ninjas. Meadows are just fantastic aren’t they and so worth the boots of effort a few times a year. Mines reviving and evolving every year and is a pleasure to maintain. 🌿🥷🤘

[@kathrynburkhill7028]

Yet again I have learnt a lot. I can’t wait to see this wild meadow flourishing next year. You need to get a basket on the Cherry bomb mower for Barrymore ride in 🤗. Another brilliant vlog. 😍 Mum xx

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Mum! Yes I do need to get Barry a ride on so he can join me! It’s been a wonderfully wild year in the garden. I can’t wait for next year now! Lee xxx

[@lynnsmith7371]

Love how supportive you are of your son. Great lad!

[@jaythompson7149]

You always make my day Lee. No matter how crappy I feel about the onset of winter you make it better. Keep doing what you do and love to Barry! Hugs. J

[@Gardenninja]

Ahh Jay! What a awesome comment to get. Especially during these dark corona days. Well I was born with the glass half full and just can’t shake the feeling that life’s always got a surprise around the corner. (Hopefully in a vaccine!!) Barry says hello! Happy gardening. Lee

[@danno1800]

This was simply AWESOME, Lee! Thank you - you’ve given me all I need to know about doing it. I have subscribed. Much appreciated…

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Dan! Glad my contents giving you all you need to get gardening! Welcome to the Ninja community! You can interact with the whole community on my forum too if you have gardening questions! www.gardenninja.co.uk/forum/

[@Piper_of_Hamelin]

Well thought out, accessible, and just a delight to watch! Thank you!

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Piper! Glad you liked it. Make sure you subscribe for even more! Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿

[@ragdollyally]

Thank you! Love your videos, you're very easy to learn from as a new gardener! X

[@Gardenninja]

You’re welcome Allie. Welcome to the Garden Ninja Army! 🥷🌿🤘

[@carolinevickers]

Great video Lee - thank you!

[@thomas.roberts]

Enjoyed this series Lee. Looking forward to seeing how it looks this summer!

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Thomas. More updates on the meadow to follow soon! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@busarafirestone1180]

Your channel is so fun! I'm going to watch all the videos. I'm an Arborist and garden designer in northern California and working on creating the English cottage garden of my dreams at my own home. Love it, keep the videos coming!

[@Gardenninja]

Hey Busara. Thanks so much! I have a lot of fun filming my gardening guides. If I get asked to design an English cottage garden then I’ll defo do a guide!! Happy gardening. Lee

[@oknavi]

Excellent video! Thanks

[@Gardenninja]

You’re welcome! Happy gardening! 🥷🌿🤘

[@samoan_soprano]

Great vid. I’m absolutely useless in the garden but we have a garden and I want to be more active in it. Thank you so much for the tips. I have loads of flowers growing all over my lawn and my mother inlaw suggested a meadow pathway. 👍🏽

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much! I’m glad you’re loving my online gardening content. I’m glad you’re becoming a garden ninja in the process!! 🥷🌿👌 Lee

[@crochetingaroundnewzealand]

Just found this video explaining after my question in another video 🙂👍

[@Gardenninja]

🥰 Glad it’s useful Crocheting! 🥷🌿

[@thedave7029]

Morning mate... Have a fantastic day 🙂

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Dave. The weathers not looking hopeful but still.....always the optimist I am!!!

[@zakeebanks9757]

Great video

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Zake. Hope you’re well and enjoying your own garden. Lee

[@zakeebanks9757]

@@Gardenninja Hi mate, yes doing as much as I can in the garden when the rain allows.....just trying to keep the leafs of the grass is my biggest challenge.....lol lol...not sure I’m winning.....as I have a Robinia tree., need I say anymore. Also not sure if left would causes any damage to the lawn, but it does look a little unsightly.......lol lol...or am I just fussy....lol lol Hope your day has been a productive one. Thanks again for video/s.

[@Pineapples8theWorld]

So excited to see this! We have a 2.5 acre plot that we are planning to turn into a meadow/wildlife area. Gonna check out your other videos too. In the US rather than the UK... do you think this all still applies?

[@arickle]

I have three small wildflower gardens. One is very visible and I'll need to clean it up now (just had our first frost and everything died quickly). That one I'll probably cut down and collect all trimmings and clean it up and plant something new next spring. The other two I would like to try and have reseed themselves. I've been dropping all deadheads and things into the gardens. If I cut these down and collect all the trimmings will there be any seeds left to grow in the spring? I've also read that I should just leave the dead plants up until spring if possible, and cut them down then.

[@dbatesdob]

The garden is looking great . None gardening question ... what was the green / khaki top you were wearing , I'll get myself one lol .

[@Gardenninja]

Hahahaha it’s a khaki military zip up. Nice inbetween top when it’s not raining too much or a bit nippy! 😂

[@NickijoeCanuck]

Any update on this wildflower meadow series? I'm just starting to create one in a woodsy-like established area and would love to see how you're progressing after a year.

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Nickijoe. Checkout my latest bud where I provide an update from this month! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@goatecheese]

Thank you Mr. Burkhill, for your efforts to help us naturalize and promote indigenous species and pollinators. My first question for you is about the lawn mower / tractor you use in cutting back your meadow(s), i.e., what brand and model is it, please? I've never seen one quite like it with the lever for dumping. I wonder if it's even available in the U.S. Regardless, please let us know.

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Biscuits. Thanks for your fab feedback. It’s a Mountfield ride on mower. I also use a strimmer to reduce the growth first though as not to clog the machine. Happy meadowing! Lee 🥷🌿🤘

[@scottemmitt297]

I have some vases of wild flowers left over from a wedding given to my wife. Can they be sown onto a patch of waste land at back of our garden to grow? Always loved wild flowers meadows. Any advice please

[@LifeonPigRow]

Great advice, could you do this in an orchard or would it not work as the trees need fertile soil?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Andrew. I can’t see why not. I never feed my mini orchard and collect my grass clippings from around the trees to no detriment. You could always leave a ring around the tree of mulch and let the grass do it’s thing!! Happy gardening. Lee

[@ollvebranch]

I have a typical terrace small garden, but am dead keen to have a wildflower lawn. I’m going to buy wildflower lawn log rolls and wondered if I could also plant spring bulbs once established for interest at this time of year. Appreciate your thoughts.

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Olive Branch, You could plant spring bulbs. I'd avoid daffodils though as they come up a bit late for a wildflower meadow. Given you need to do an early mow you may decapitate the daffs in the process! Other than that, go for it! Happy Gardening. Lee

[@kathleenhannigan1210]

After the fall cutting, what else has to be done to prepare for next spring? I just started my garden this spring, and dont know how to prepare it for over for the spring. Thank you

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Kathleen. Great question. Once you’ve done your last cut just leave the meadow it needs no more attention! The wild flowers thrive off low nitrogen and feed Al never feed a meadow. 🥷🌿👌 Hope that helps. Lee

[@kathleenhannigan1210]

@@Gardenninja Thank you so much. Your help is greatly appreciated.

[@jjmcrosbie]

The hay cut is a matter of timing, and is best done as follows: First, the cut hay is left for a week to dry, then turned and left for another week to complete drying. These actions allow the seeds from the wildflowers to ripen and fall to the ground, ready to germinate the next year. The timing is as follows: most of the "weeds" like thistles, nettles and other obnoxious items flower and seed later in the year, so choose the time for the cut to allow the nice Spring flowers to flower and seed, but prevent the later, coarser "weeds" from setting their seeds. We have run our 1700m² patch this way for 30 years, and now have 5 species of orchid every year, among such other treasures as Snowdrops, Cowslips, Salad Burnet, Meadow Clary, Lady's Bedstraw, Ox-eye Daisies, Restharrow, Buttercups, Fumitory......... Note, it took a couple of years before the patch started to emerge as a wildflower meadow, but reached maturity in about 6 years. The orchids will install themselves if they want to - you can't transplant them from the wild, they just die. You can however introduce Snowdrops, Daffodils and Lily of the Valley in the right kind of soil. Don't plant huge numbers: if they like it they'll multiply, if they don't they'll die out The reason for removing the grass cuttings and Hay is the nitrogen content. Grass needs a high nitrogen content to flourish. It has the odd characteristic of producing growth at its base, and not at its top as most plants do. Wildflowers, as Lee says, do better in low nitrogen soils.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Jim for sharing your meadow making and cutting tips. Really fascinating stuff. Also great advice on the amount of time it takes to establish. Each year so far in my meadow a different plant wildflower or weed has had a boon before changing the next year as it balances. It really is intriguing to see Mother Nature work it out for herself. Not to mention the abundance of insects and wildlife. 🥷🌿🤘

[@Cc-wz6ji]

I planted wildflowers on the borders of my lawn...but...seems I didn't kill off the grass fully (plastic sheets not on for long enough I think) Would spraying the grass with weed killer in the autumn after the wildflowers have died off be a good idea? Or would it 'pollute' the wildflower seeds in the soil? I am pulling out grass where I see it's about to seed to try to prevent it getting worse next year. Thanks for any advice from the wildflower community!

[@makemefamous1232]

Hi, we created a nature garden this spring. But in our inexperience we went for 100% annual wild flower mix! Its been an amazing display. But Im a little lost about whether i should just follow your instructions from this video by removing the clippings. Or just cut down in early October and then roll clippings into the ground, to encourage seeds produced by flowers to contact soil and regrow. Could you give me a little advice please. This is a school nature garden so dont want to muck it up!!

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Michael. I’d cut it down. Leave it to dry the remove all clippings. That way the seeds can resow and you’re keeping the fertility low. Hope that helps! Happy meadowing. Lee 🥷🌿🤘

[@PhillTicehurst]

at first i thought you were lee hendrie who played for aston villa

[@Gardenninja]

I get that every now and then. Can confirm. Never played for Villa. 🤣🤣🤣🥷🌿

[@bobmarley6161]

Hi... I don't have a meadow.. But I have planted lots of wildflower seeds in my garden in a area I cleared of weeds... The flowers are coming up really nicely now although I have no idea what some of them are... My question is.. In the autumn do I rake the patch again and throw more seeds or shall I just leave it and throw more seeds... Any help is much appreciated. Best regards and stay safe

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Bob. It depends if your seed mix was annual ie lives only one season or perennial. The best thing to do is to crush the seed heads before you mow and scatter from this years flowers once they have set seed. Then mow and lift clippings. Walk over the area to press the seeds into the soil ready for next year! Happy growing! Lee 🥷🌿

[@helenmaxwell6473]

....and is it timely to broadcast yarrow to support weakening the grass, or should this be done in the following year?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Helen. You could sow it now ready for next year. It’s a super spreader so easy to broadcast. Or you could sow it as a plug plant next spring and then you can dot it through your meadow. Whichever you prefer! Autumn is definitely the best time for Yellow Rattle the parasitic meadow plant. Hope that helps and happy gardening. Lee

[@HeatherJRedhead]

Just done the second stage cut. When do I sow the annual flower seeds, please?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Heather. You could sow them now where they will lie dormant until the conditions of next spring wake them up or early next spring. For yellow rattle it takes a long time to germinate so it’s always recommended to sow this in Autumn for the next year. Remembering that your mimicking what would happen in true meadows allowing the seed to fall, get trampled by livestock and then germinate the nest year. Hope that helps. Lee 🥷🌿

[@HeatherJRedhead]

@@Gardenninja thank you. I’ll sow them over the weekend.

[@sheelaghomalley3292]

What is the yellow flower that looks like a small snapdragon or big yellow rattle?

[@Gardenninja]

It’s a Linaria vulgaris or toadflax it’s a competitive plant that can help slow down grasses. Good to even up the balance! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@Littlelamb2023]

After I’ve cut back in sep can I spray weed killer on weeds that are taking over?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Gio. I’d never advise using weed killer especially not in a meadow. It will drift and pretty much wipe out all your hard work. If you see weeds appearing it’s best to remove them manually. Checkout this guide. kzbin.info/www/bejne/aoisdYZ5f5mibK8 🥷🌿🤘

[@Littlelamb2023]

@@Gardenninja thanks for the reply Lee 👍 I know this sounds silly but it’s been taken over by creeping buttercups and others. Think I should start again? 😬 also how do you know. What is meadow grass and what’s be grass 🤷🏽‍♂️🤦🏽‍♂️😂

[@brendanstark]

I wish you’d refer to the timing relative to the season rather than to the month. Month applies only to your area. Season applies to most of the world.

[@Gardenninja]

Fair point. So early spring cut one. Late summer cut two. Then the final cut 3 weeks after that. There you go! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@brendanstark]

@@Gardenninja Thank you for responding Lee, much appreciated!

[@Frostie3672]

I absolutely detest strimmers, the amount of hedgehogs that suffer horrific injuries or even killed out right every year by people using them is just horrific & a meadow could make an ideal place for a hedgehog to make a nest in. I always check mine before I cut it for that very reason.

[@Gardenninja]

Good comment on hedgehogs. It’s always worth ‘walking’ around and through your meadow before cutting it. Kicking through the grass and plants to see what maybe still there. Thanks for pointing this out for Ninjas! 🥷🌿👌