Wildflower Meadow Guide Update: 1 year on reveal of the wildlife garden

[@kathrynburkhill7028]

What a fabulous inspiring video. Your wild meadow is amazing and dad and I really enjoyed walking through it with you and Barry. It is amazing for just over a year since you sowed it all. It is a totally relaxing area and I am as excited as you to watch it grow and evolve over the years to come. Brilliant. Mum 🤗🥰

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Mum. Next time you’re round we can go for a wander and see what else we can spot growing! Barry loves running around it and exploring! 🥷🥷🐶 xx

[@MyFocusVaries]

How lovely. I had to turn on the TV and watch it on the big screen. The wind in the tall grasses is so beautiful.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Candace. Would make a good endless look that walk wouldn’t it!! 🥰🥷🌿

[@beckyscheller9358]

How exciting to see the changes. Glad to see you had a chair to use

[@Gardenninja]

Hahaha always. I sometimes sit there in the early evening and watch all the life wind down. We even have bats swooping over! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@seasidestitches615]

Great Lee. Thanks, love seeing the progress of your brilliant wildflower meadow.

[@brynjulvdavis]

Wow what a transformation since you started. Looks fantastic

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much! It’s lovely mum really pleased with it. 🥷🌿🥰

[@cawstongreenway]

We are on year 4 of our meadow. It's amazing how it changes year to year. The perennials are now in abundance so no longer feel the need to over-seed with a cornflower mix. Lovely to see it evolve. Thanks for all the hints and tips GN

[@Gardenninja]

You’re welcome Paul. It’s an ever changing feast with a meadow and I think that’s the beauty of it. Yes it’s low maintenance but it’s also evolving. With some tweaks from us we can help establish it but then the rest is for Mother Nature!!! 🥷🤘🌿🥰

[@dwoodbury]

So lovely, with the mowed path through the wild flowers. Thank you for sharing.

[@Gardenninja]

Glad you enjoyed it 🥷🌿

[@stevebuck1737]

Hello Lee, Looks absolutely fantastic. I'm overwhelmed to see so much growth . I'm starting a wildflower meadow near our community garden and I get encouraged by your simple calm tips and tricks. My "patch" is 12ft X 55ft. As always thanks for all you do to help us. Stat safe

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Steve. I really appreciate your support. Glad my updates are proving useful. Gardening is the one activity, hobby, job and lifestyle that should never be frantic. So I’m glad the calm is oozing out via my videos! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@melanieparsons2355]

I have meadow envy! I wish I had a meadow that didn't spread into my neighbour's land. Lee's meadow is truly awesome.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Melanie. I absolutely love it. And the way it changes each year. 🥷🤘🌱

[@marylynnhaynes7558]

So excited to see in another 2 years. The perennials will be showing. Beautiful 😍

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much Mary! It going to get better and better over time! Happy gardening. 🥷🌿

[@NickijoeCanuck]

Yay! I hoped you would do an update! I'm just starting my wildflower meadow and watched your playlist. I'm so happy you uploaded a how it's looking now video.

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much! Really enjoying work and my garden at the moment. Especially helping others. It’s my dream job. Happy meadowing and check back for more vids soon! Lee 🥷🌿

[@BottlegardenUK]

Absolutely fabulous, it must be a great feeling to reintroduce such a needed habit back into our countryside.

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Pamela. Absolutely. I’m seeing insects I’ve not spotted in years and there’s literally a buzz around the meadow!!! Wonderful! Happy gardening. 🥷🌿

[@stankawai3244]

I'm excited to see how your meadow is doing this June. Please post an update video.

[@Gardenninja]

Of course!!! There’s one in the pipeline coming soon. It’s looking rather epic!!! 🥷🌿🤘😉

[@yolandamorphakis3598]

Have just discovered your page, this is such inspirational gardening that I want to get in to. Hoping more and more people adopt this style of gardening. Thanks for putting it out there! Is there a 2 year update?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Yolanda. Thanks so much for your kind words! Yes there’s loads of updates on the meadow during my Garden Tours episodes. So glad you’re enjoying my content. Also make sure you checkout my blog where there are hundreds of free gardening guides. www.gardenninja.co.uk/ 🥷🤘🌿

[@maleahlock]

Beautiful. I can almost smell it. Brilliant job sir!

[@Gardenninja]

A heady mix of scents! Happy gardening. 🥷🌿

[@phillipyorko6686]

Amazing start. I’d hang there for a nice lazy Sunday afternoon

[@Gardenninja]

Hehe you’d be welcome to! Watch the myriad of wildlife buzzing about! 🥷🌿🐝

[@jaycee8121]

Beautiful wildflower meadow. Interesting to see it grow & evolve. Great home to so much wild life 🌼

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Jay Acer. Glad you’re enjoying the updates! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@Piper_of_Hamelin]

This is gorgeous! I am so excited about starting a similar journey. My back yard is about 1 acre and I'm saving to fence it in. Between now and then, I'm doing research and you've been a big help - Thank you!

[@Gardenninja]

You’re welcome Piper! Glad my guides are useful. Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿

[@telfordsmith1397]

Another Top Draw presentation. Looks very established already..... must feel very rewarding. 🤗😎

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Telford. I’m made up with it. Other than the growing and planning it’s going to be pretty much low maintenance. It just feels now that this patch of grass has come alive and has created an entire eco system where once it was just a monoculture of grass. 🥷🌿🥰

[@happyexplorer8850]

It’s looking so good! Loved this video 💚

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much!! 🥷🌿🤘

[@pineconedefense1280]

Looking so good!

[@stampinghippo7157]

Lee, the wildflower meadow looks fantastic. I might try this next spring on a smaler scale. Thanks for the update.

[@LisaFernando]

It looks absolutely beautiful. I started my meadow earlier this year with lots of natives. Rewilding is the way forward 😊

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much Lisa. Rewilding really is the best and easiest choice for any gardener with a space that they’re not sure on what to do and want low maintenance. 🥷🌿🤘

[@lizcolton9832]

Lovely to see how your meadow is developing. We hope to make a wildflower garden, we’ve just moved to a new house in the country and currently have a bare patch of garden…not for long, I’m itching to get started! Your meadow project is so inspiring.

[@Gardenninja]

Ooohhh give it a go Liz! You won’t be disappointed. Low maintenance and great for wildlife 🥷🌿 Lee

[@HeatherJRedhead]

We’re in year one. Got the oxeye daisies and achillea. Have got some mallow, hyssop and yellow rattle seeds in preparation for next year. It looks a bit messy now after all the heavy rain. Going to mow a path next year.

[@Gardenninja]

The heavy rain is a pain but have faith Heather. Especially because you’re one of many starting to truly help Mother Nature. Wildflower meadows and strips are such a diverse habitat for insects and birds. You’re doing great! Keep it up! Lee 🥷🌿

[@stevef1264]

Looks fab Lee it's gonna be really interesting watching your meadow evolve & isn't that orchid beautiful!

[@Gardenninja]

Cheers Stephen. I’m really pleased with it. Especially with random orchids popping up! What’s not to love!! 🥷🌿

[@lilwilliams7277]

Looking great Lee. Love the orchid it’s beautiful.

[@Gardenninja]

Isn’t it just Liz! And it just popped up. Showing what else maybe living in my garden without me even knowing!! Lee 🥷🌿

[@thornwarbler]

Im doing this but on a much smaller scale. Having watched the bees in my garden ignore the hybridised bedding plants, and favour the clover and buttercups in my rather unkempt lawn its opened my eyes for the need of places of refuge for wildlife. Thanks for showing your meadow its a real inspiration. I look forward to seeing it progress......Cheers

[@Gardenninja]

So glad to hear Thornwarbler. It’s amazing what pops up when you just let mother nature’s be! 🥷🌿

[@anniep6331]

Hi Lee, it’s looking marvellous already. I’m just about to embark on this journey with an acre plot! I’m a little overwhelmed but your videos have given me great insight. Hold I ask how you mow the tall meadow as you mentioned in the clip? I have a mower but it wouldn’t tackle anything that tall. Thank you and for all your wonderful garden videos, so wonderful to watch something I understand that isn’t made complicated!

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Annie. What fantastic feedback. It’s really made my day that you like my content and it’s making a complicated subject matter easy to understand. Brilliant! Right the best way is to use a strimmer first. Which I do. Get the meadow down to maybe 6 inches then use a mower for the finishing cut. You can always play around with how much meadow you leave. My paths change slightly each year. On years where I have lots of time I may let the meadow get larger. In more time pressured years like this year with my tv work. The paths get a bit bigger. Everything survives and there’s no drama. Make sure you enjoy the process and allow the meadow to evolve alongside you! Do let us know how you get on by using the garden ninja forum online where other ninjas can help if you have specific gardening questions. www.gardenninja.co.uk/forum/ Happy gardening! 🥷🌿🙌

[@anniep6331]

@@Gardenninja you’re an absolute star Lee. I appreciate you taking the time to reply, so gracious of you. That solution sounds completely doable! I’ll let you know how I get on and photograph my journey, polytunnel to build first, mainly reclaimed materials so I’m excited! Good luck with all your projects and thank you from the bottom of my heart for taking the time to care 🥰

[@karenmccarthy5841]

Started a wild flower meadow this year. allowed half my garden to do its thing and have watched an array of tall grasses with that beautiful mauve hue emerge. at times I have looked at it and thought what the hell have I done and at other times thought this is beautiful. O searched for info to give me a perspective on what to do and expect going forward but found none satisfactory until I found your vid. Great tips Thank you. Think I love it though not 100% sure yet😄 I've planted lots of birch, Hazel and few ornamental grasses in the meadow. Was thinking of adding a few tall azaleas and bright tulips to jazz things up The frustrating thing is the wait... looking forward to what next year brings. Thanks again

[@Gardenninja]

Keep going Karen!! It will take a year or two for some more rare beauties to turn up! I know it can feel like an age but remember just how much you’re doing to help wildlife and Mother Nature. That kindness will pay off!! Happy meadowing. Lee 🥷🌿

[@karenmccarthy5841]

@@Gardenninja BTW you're doing a great job overall. love all your tips and enthusiasm. Love your bright personality. Just to add you have the most gorgeous teeth... your smile lights up the screen... a real cutie!!!! That's enough compliments now🙄 Keep doing you... you're doing fantastic!

[@Gardenninja]

Aww thanks Karen. What a lovely comment for the end of the weekend and to keep me going through the next two weeks of show garden building and garden rescue. I’ll be tired by August I reckon!!! 😂😂😂

[@karenmccarthy5841]

@@Gardenninja Plenty of tonics... mind yourself as well as you do your gardens. I'll look forward to seeing your creations x

[@lisaduthie2423]

Huge thanks for the inspiration. I am a new gardener, with a new house (in woodland area) that has been left unattended for several years and needs a lot of attention. One area which I'd like to create a wildflower meadow, has several mature pine trees in it and is very mossy - would this work in a mossy space?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Lisa. As Long as you have enough sunlight for the seedlings to germinate. Most meadow plants need full sun mid summer. You could go for a woodland planting scheme with ferns and shade loving plants though! 🥷🌿🤘 Maybe add some pics onto my forum for other ninjas to advise too. www.gardenninja.co.uk/forum/

[@nordlys3432]

Thanks for your advice, your meadow is looking fantastic!!! I've just a small border as a meadow, planted daisy and yarrow and more, but had to take them out again, saving them against slug attacks - those brown slugs, we have here in Germany, eat EVERYTHING. I don't give up, will follow your meadow and succeeded at least by planting a natural broom.

[@Gardenninja]

I get Lilac. It’s a tricky balance but by leaving them you would probably help encourage over time birds and other beneficial slug predators! But like you say. Don’t give up! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@nordlys3432]

@@GardenninjaThx! Unfortunately THOSE slugs - they came from abroad , Spain or so, in the 1980ies - have NO natural enemies here in the north, not even hedgehogs eat them, Chinese runner ducks only. But who can keep Chinese runner ducks? 😉. It seems that they didn't reach the British islands yet. Hopefully they never won't.

[@karenmccarthy5841]

love it... well done x

[@EmilyElizabethMusic]

Looks great!

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks so much! 🥷🌿🤘

[@neilmccarthy4289]

Hi Lee, love your videos and learn loads. I want to get cracking with a wild meadow on the lawn area at the end of our garden, I see you planted the wild flowers in amongst the grass, removing the turf, and over time they fight for their space with the grass What do you think about the other method I've seen where the grass is removed fully and you sow the flowers/seeds into the raked soil? (clay soil in our case). Thanks for any advice, Neil

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Neil. I’m so glad you’re learning loads from my videos. Great to hear!! The more traditional method for annual wild flowers (those that flower, set seed then die all in one year) are best sown into bare soil. However I’ve used perennial wild flower frown from seed then planted in. You can choose either method. Just ensure if using annuals thag you cut them back once they have finished and set seed. If you cut them back before this it won’t enable them to cast their seed ready for next year! Happy growing! 🥷🌿🤘

[@neilmccarthy4289]

That’s great Lee. Many thanks. Perennials are in pots as we speak. Neil

[@brendawilliams700]

I’m trying to grow a small patch of wild meadow in my lawn. I’m looking forward to next year when I hope to see some of the plants growing. How and when should I mow it?

[@Gardenninja]

Have you watched my how to mow a wildflower meadow guide? That should give you all you need to know. kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKfbe2iYl7GKh7s

[@brendawilliams700]

Thank you Lee. I’ll check it out.

[@dbatesdob]

Superb Lee well done . Quick question... I planted Lavatera for the first time and it's flowering great, but flopping all over the other plants . Apart from staking , is there anything I can do ie pruning which will prevent or lessen its flopping ... cheers .

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Big D. Lavatera can get top heavy. You can prune them for a more open frame work but because they’re fast growers it’s hard to keep them compact. I’d use a metal c shape support early in the season to help provide a bit of support against flopping! Hope that helps. 🥷🌿

[@dbatesdob]

@@Gardenninja cheers

[@dbatesdob]

Back again....is Phlomis Tuberosa a good replacement for the lavatera... sorry to be a pain. I dislike plants that need staking as I always think they look unsightly and choked lol ... cheers Lee

[@gregwade7974]

Hi! I'm about to plant a small meadow area in a friend's garden. I've pegged out and roped the area, but I'm wondering if you chose any particular types of grass or if you just let what's already there go wild.. 🙂

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Greg. I wouldn’t introduce any grasses unless already there as they compete with the wild flowers. Naturally some occur but let Mother Nature sort that out as it will give your wildflowers a head start to compete! Happy sowing. Lee 🥷🌿🤘

[@Martial-Mat]

I'm a simple man - I see daisies, buttercups or sunflowers and I think of pure childhood happiness and innocence.

[@Gardenninja]

There’s nothing wrong with a bit of daydreaming back to simpler times though eh! 🥷🌿🤘

[@Martial-Mat]

@@Gardenninja No, far from it. In fact I spend most of my life trying to return to that childhod state of simplicity and wonder. :D

[@nanabusterd]

Fabulous result Lee! How many acres is the meadow?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Nana.it’s half an acre. However all of the techniques apply to even no now strips. You can actually hear the buzz it insects and bird song when you approach it!! Happy gardening. 🥷🌿

[@nanabusterd]

@@Gardenninja Your property films beautifully. I thought it was several acres. Thanks Lee!

[@outoftownr3906]

Hi Great to see your meadow coming on so well. When I prepared my wildflower meadow I sowed a cornfield annual mix in the autumn with perennial wildflower seed at the same time. I had all the annuals flowering the following summer with the perennials developing rosettes to flower the next year. I mowed off & collected off the cuttings in late summer. Another good plant that parasitises grass and reduces its dominance is yellow rattle - very expensive seed though. Inula are nice but can be too big for a small meadow. Thanks

[@keithhooper6123]

Very interesting. We have twenty six acres,and have four fields ,total around eighteen acres becoming wild flower meadow.

[@alcroc]

Time for a beehive? Hi Lee a fantastic job. I have a small meadow and keep a couple of Beehives in the corner of the garden. The meadow and the bees are best friends! Pollen for the Bees and Pollination for the meadow. I guess this may be a step too far for you and other viewers. Though anyone for free locally sourced honey? Regards, Mark. x

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Mark! I’ve been booked on a bee keeping course but due to covid it keeps changing. I’d love to have a few hives. But want to do it properly. So hopefully next spring when the course is on again I’ll be there learning ready to introduce some to the garden. Happy gardening! 🥷🌿🐝🤞

[@alcroc]

@@Gardenninja Hi Lee, great stuff. Though if you can possibly bring your beginner's course forward it will put you in a better position for your hives to establish and get a full season rather than the tail end of spring. As you will learn, there are no wrong or right answers in Beekeeping. Be guided by your hives and you won't go far wrong! Mark. x

[@Gardenninja]

Yes the shame is the local bee keeping association only run the course once a year!! In spring. Patience is a virtue though. 🥷🌿🐝

[@rosepetal45]

Meadow's looking great 👍. I have a small area - 15m2. The recent heavy rains have caused alot of it to collapse. Any suggestions to avoid this next year?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Rosepetal some of mine has collapsed but I just cut back those bits or leave them. They add spaces for birds to rest in. Also it opens up light to other parts of your meadow. Go with the flow and keep going!!

[@kiddcapri1711]

@@Gardenninja I needed to know this after 30% of mine has collapsed too. The wildflowers I showed last year, only 2 varieties grew back.. but in sowed more this year in different area's, which is now dominated by lacy phacily.. something (purple flowering plant) on the plus side it's bringing in lots of bee's, although the plant is looking like it's lived it's life cycle in some parts.

[@Pineapples8theWorld]

How often do you mow your short grass path?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Miss MJ. About every two weeks. Keeps it neat and invites visitors to explore! 🥷🌿😜

[@terrycoles9079]

Good morning lee, Loving the meadow, it looks so natural and peaceful. Do you take a cup of tea and sit in the meadow to relax ? I have a long garden that is looking awesome and would like some advice please😊 I have made a long wide border in front of a 6ft fence so I need something that will hopefully grow quite tall to hide it, any suggestions would be great 😁 Have a great day and keep up the excellent work. Thanks a lot. Terry.

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Terry. Many thanks for your message. I do go and sit at dusk there with a brew and watch the bats and wildlife settle. Hmm tall plants for in front of a fence. There’s so many options. One would be Kerria japonica. Hazel - Coryllus multistem could be nice and kept relatively in check. Cotinus smoke bush. All will give year round structure and worth a nosey. Researching them may lead you to other specimens too! Hope that helps. Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿

[@terrycoles9079]

@@Gardenninja Good morning Lee, Thank you so much for your advice on some border plants, advice I shall certainly be taking. I know I have said this before, but you do have the ability to get people motivated, I absolutely love working on my garden and waiting for your new videos😁 Sounds great taking a brew down the meadow and watching the bats. I'm always taking a cup of tea down in my garden and watching nature.. A passion of mine is to buy a remote plot of land and do similar to what you have achieved in your beautiful garden of paradise. God bless you my friend. Thanks again. Terry.

[@ingrid-xr3ql]

So I’m attempting to create a wildflower meadow but I’ve run into some issues. The area is very overrun with wild raspberries and weeds so I push mowed all of it down(it was exhausting bc the area is pretty big). Do I need to pull out all of the root systems so that they won’t come back? Also bc the area is quite large and I don’t think I can hand-till it, are there any other options?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi ingrid. You will need to manually remove any perennial weeds. I hand remove docks which would take over along with some nettles. It’s worth it though. I use a ride on mower to cut and collect mine after it’s gone to seed. Super simple! Happy gardening. Lee 🥷🌿

[@ingrid-xr3ql]

@@Gardenninja thank you so much! Did you have to till your meadow before planting the seeds?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Ingrid. No. I keep soul disturbance to a minimum with all my work. I grew them under glass them short mowed the area and then hand planted each one into the meadow area. Make sure you checkout the full series to see it step by step! You can sow by seed in particular for annual meadows but they can be a bit hit and miss. My versions perennial so you don’t need to have it reseeded by nature or your intervention each year. Happy gardening! Lee 🥷🌿

[@ingrid-xr3ql]

@@Gardenninja Oh, that sounds much easier and better than hand tilling it! All of mine are perennials. I will definitely watch the other videos!

[@bettybailey2928]

Love this

[@Gardenninja]

Thanks Betty! 🥷🌿

[@Freespirit598]

Hi Lee Ive just suscribed to your fabulous channel, I want to learn everything. Im planning on making use of our large garden especially for the bees and wildlife. We are planning a wild flower garden but also want to plant some trees. Could you advise please what is the absolute best tree/s to plant for bees please? Many thanks : )

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Sandra. Great to hear from you and your kind words about my channel! Best trees for bees are fruit trees and any thing with early pollen like crab apples or even Sorbus. Make sure you check out my blog for hundreds more gardening guides here www.gardenninja.co.uk there’s a lovely forum there too for questions! 🥷🌿👌

[@Freespirit598]

@@Gardenninja Thanks Lee I was looking at crab apples, sound like thats the one, thank you : )

[@richp2938]

Lee would love to see a smaller version incorporated into your designs on TV 😉

[@ChipsGreenWorld]

Lovely 😊 beautiful 👍 & hi 👋 from CHIPS WORLD in Yorkshire

[@BarriosGroupie]

Last year I allowed my garden to go wild to see what grew where naturally, and I was impressed by the long purple grass heads looking incredible as they waved in the wind, shedding their silvery mist like seeds. Unfortunately, I also had horse tail running riot in the shady parts which I saw as an endearing fern like weed.

[@najomiecournoyer2604]

Do you mow the meadow entirely?

[@Gardenninja]

Hi Nanjomie. You mow a meadow three times a year. Follow this guide to see exactly how! kzbin.info/www/bejne/fKfbe2iYl7GKh7uW happy mowing! Lee

[@najomiecournoyer2604]

@@Gardenninja Aaah thank you so much!

[@sharonwells5678]

Oh help! i started a wildflower meadow on our super sunny front lawn, last year. We planted many wild meadow plants which we ordered online. I've los the list of what they were BUT it looks awful. Huge lots of cow parsley, schism vugare and Ragwort!! How do i turn it around into a delicate looking meadow. Anyone any ideas?

[@crochetingaroundnewzealand]

You said mow about 3 times per year. You're not worried about "killing" the flowers? I'm on sand at the beach. I only have dandelion and paspalam in summer for a "lawn" lol I need to find more drought tolerant, sand loving pkants/flowers. I always plant flowers amongst my veges.

[@Gardenninja]

No if it’s a true annual flower they’re going to die any way. You cut them to spread seed and allow light in. For perennials they have already flowered and done their thing for this year. Don’t be too tentative. The three cuts will help keep your meadow in too too shape. As for Sandy soil there’s plenty of drought tolerant plants. Poppies for one example will survive quite happily in poor dry conditions. Hope that helps! Lee 🥷🌿

[@crochetingaroundnewzealand]

@@Gardenninja thank you. Ok yes I'm starting to understand now cut after the seeds are ready so they drop n spread? I learn by watching not thinking 😂😂😂

[@sharonwells5678]

wished I'd seen your video first Lee.