Making A Meadow: Part 1 | Planting Yellow Rattle Plugs

Hi folks! Filmed a while back, today I'm showing the start of a meadow creation journey. I'm releasing it now as it’s the best time to be sowing seeds, or thinking about ordering plugs for Spring 2023!
Regarding the content, I’ve definitely only lightly touched on a lot of the aspects here. Your final species composition for a meadow will be determined by a lot more than just the nutrient content! But hopefully this is a useful introduction to some of the basics and I will give a lot more information in future videos. (I also totally forgot to say that Yellow Rattle is famously called 'The Meadow Maker'. Doh!)
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Photo used under CC 4.0 - HunobaNurlu - Scything
Making A Meadow: Part 1 | Planting Yellow Rattle Plugs

[@fromseedtoharvestplot17a6]

I love your content been watching a wile now keep up the good work. Happy growing From Seed To Harvest

[@JBNat]

Thank you!

[@Crumbleofborg]

As luck would have it, I sowed some Yellow Rattle yesterday in modules: a couple of seeds with a little pinch of grass seed in each module. With any luck, the grass will grow up this autumn and the Yellow Rattle will come up in the spring. Wish me luck!

[@JBNat]

Good luck! If you have any spare it's well worth sowing directly on the ground (maybe when it's not so dry). I'll be doing a bit of that in my update video as well (spoilers, the plug plants didn't have great success!)

[@ballysillanallotment-man5793]

Very informative video JB i hope it all turns out well for you in will look lovely around you mini orchard

[@JBNat]

Thank you kindly, I hope so too!

[@samuelhawkins6064]

always relaxing watching your video whatever your doing on your allotment like your laugh and smile

[@JBNat]

😊

[@jennyp1008]

JB we planted a wildflower meadow last year (October), very successfully as it turns out. The past couple of days we have been harvesting the yellow rattle and corn cockle seeds. The yellow rattle grew really well. If you want some I can send you some.

[@JBNat]

Fantastic Jenny!!! I would love to learn more about what you've done! Please do email me at [e-mail] !

[@jennyp1008]

@@JBNat email sent JB.

[@geraldinekelly1301]

I remember you talking about Yellow Rattle before JB and thought it was great!! Can't wait to see part two...brilliant video...thanks JB x

[@JBNat]

Geraldine! Long time no see - I hope all is well with you! Thanks for the support, this really is a project I've had in the back of my mind for ages! Unfortunately it didn't go quite to plan but that's for the next video I suppose 😊

[@patreynolds6974]

Loved this video and looking forward to part 2.

[@alastairsampson5003]

I planted plug plants in spring which are now setting seed so happy days. I hope yours are too.

[@JBNat]

That is brilliant to hear! Congratulations Alastair. Unfortunately mine didn't fare too well, but I'll show them off soon hopefully!

[@alastairsampson5003]

There's always next year JB.

[@PreatorRaszagal]

Cool experiment. Hope it works out 🤞Can't wait for part 2!

[@Jimsraisedbedgarden]

Nice one JB , Very interesting indeed

[@sharon1615]

Fab vlog JB 🥰

[@carisharing6357]

Love watching your videos. They give me hope and inspire me to try new things. I always just grow flowers, cos i love em, but trying some lettuce this year as, well , when i see folks growing it , it always looks really nice and. You can eat it. All the best for the season.

[@JBNat]

Wow, thank you for such a lovely comment!

[@willowgrove631]

This is really interesting JB - it’s my dream to have a big enough area to sow a meadow, or even convert my lawn at some point! I can still remember a few traditional meadows around the Cheshire village where I grew up - there’s nothing more beautiful & diverse ! It will be great to see a follow-up of this in a few months 😊👍

[@JBNat]

I'm trying to do almost exactly the same thing with my back lawn! It's messy as heck but I'm really enjoying it, and the insects and birds are too.

[@karenw9996]

I'd never heard of yellow rattle, so I did a little research. I learned that "it is rare or absent across most of North America" - so that explains it. I look forward to part 2, and even more to next spring to see what comes up!

[@JBNat]

Ooh I wonder if there are parasitic American equivalents. I know you have some fascinating prairie species over there. I think Prairie's have suffered a similar fate to the majority of our old wildflower meadows, having been ploughed up for agriculture.

[@karenw9996]

@@JBNat Especially where I live, in the Red River Valley, where even from an airplane you can see how black the soil is compared to other areas! And around here it's mostly big ag, with farmers monocropping THOUSANDS of acres (per farm operation). Fortunately, I live about a half-hour drive from a native prairie that the DNR maintains as a teaching location, so I can drive on over and ask the experts if we have anything similar! I also buy my meats from regenerative farmers - specifically, my beef supplier is focusing on replanting his pastures to native species, and he's very willing to share information.

[@helenhawkins4054]

👍🤗

[@Carol-oc7mx]

By all accounts making a meadow is not as easy as you might think, but I'm rooting for you. Some people have successfully got the yellow rattle to establish and to weaken the grasses 👍 they sowed meadow flowers first year OK but then, usually oxeye daisies take over. Not sure how to redress the balance/ Good luck can't wait to see your progress. PS - I thought you might be creating a mini forest garden if there is alot of shade 🤔

[@JBNat]

I'm well aware of how difficult meadow establishment is!! I think I've mentioned that in a few other videos before but possibly should have emphasised it a little more in this! The shade isn't too bad, a lot of meadow species are sun loving, but I am sure they can cope with a bit of partial shade. Truth be told I could convert a strip of it into 'productive' land. But it's quite difficult to work underneath trees!

[@rebabs]

When is part 2 coming. 🤷🏼‍♀️ Its very interesting. No doubt Tony and Steve will have something to say.

[@JBNat]

Hopefully sooner rather than later! Lots to talk about with its current state. Tony said I was trying to grow weeds 😂

[@rebabs]

@@JBNat yes...he's so cheeky...and he still didn't give his tip 🙄

[@adysveggarden]

Hello J.B. I hope it works, if it does not have you considered herbs and alliums, I was going to give you a list but the likes of mint thyme and shrimp thyme does appear to be available? May be I should save the seed? Wild marjoram and allium sphaerocephalon (Drum Sticks) are both worth looking into.

[@JBNat]

If I can't get a native wildflower meadow established I might well look into planting this up with more specific species, it's a little early days for that yet, but I really appreciate the offer! Thank you.

[@markdavies6790]

What do the neighbours think?

[@JBNat]

Thankfully I'm on quite good terms with all my neighbours - but you might also have noticed that none of my neighbours have particularly immaculate plots! So luckily I won't be told off for introducing weed seeds or anything like that :)