Lawn To Meadow: Tips Welcome

[Backdrifter]

Blimey, first gardening question here! I'd never imagine I, one of the least green-fingered people who ever lived, would be asking it.

The house we recently bought has a large back garden, mostly lawn. We want to do away with the lawn and eventually have wild flowers, essentially a small meadow as many are now doing, but with paths through/around it (which we may eventually have gravelled). What we've read so far suggests that short of uprooting the lawn turf, we could simply stop mowing the areas we want 'wilding'. Also to scatter yellow rattle to weaken the grass and stop it dominating. It's a long-term process and we'd like to get started asap. Anything else we should know? What about maintaining the un-mown areas, do we need to strim occasionally?

All tips, hints, suggestions, benefits of experience welcome. Thanks!

[Vagus]

What a great idea!
How about scattering some wildflower seeds and poppy seeds onto the grassy areas you’re not going to mow just to help it along and give lots of colour?

[calmck]

We let the banks of our garden become wild. No mowing. Scattered seeds all over but did consult garden centre for what were specific to the area and soil

[Backdrifter]

@calmck - how long have you have you done this for? What sort of maintenance is involved? Yes - *no mowing* - that's the dream.

@Vagus - eventually yes we'll have a selection of wild flowers in the way you suggest. My understanding from the brief research I've done so far indicates this can't be done for a while though. Apparently, leaving the desired areas un-mown first allows naturally present wild flowers - eg daisies, dandelions, that usually get mown away - to establish, but because lawn grass is so dominant you have to then 'weaken' it by sowing something parasitic, eg yellow rattle. This supposedly breaks the grass's predominance and sets the scene for further wildflower sowing.

[Chipchopper]

I've been practising the"no mow may" method for several years now, and every year seems better than the last. Hawkbit is dominating this year, also my bird's foot trefoil patch is expanding well, and the lesser knapweed is bringing marbled white butterflies in. orange hawkweed adds some variation, and it self seeds well, as does clover.
I like to mow meandering walkways through my mini meadow, it adds a scence of perpose.

[rowanwitch]

No substitute for doing it properly.
Strip and remove the existing turf and 're sow with a meadow mix that includes yellow rattle. ( also worth adding some snakes head fritillary bulbs at this point and maybe some other spring bulbs, they will die down before the meadow flowers get too big)If possible find a mix based on local flowers as it will establish better. Strim off in early October, leave the cut plants on the soil for 24 hours then rake up and remove. It's then just a matter of wedding out the nasties when they appear like dock,thistles, ragwort, and dandelions.

[KUSTARD]

When I saw little flowers appearing, I asked my gardener to leave the back lawn unmowed and now it is a riot of buttercups, daisies, clover and a little purple plant which the bees seem to love. I really enjoy looking at it

[Chipchopper]

As an alternative to scattering seeds, which can be a bit hit-and-miss, might like to buy turf with the wild flowers already growing in it, such as "meadow mats" which can save a lot of time, getting perennials established.
I scattered some old carrot seed, I had lying around, and they turned out to make some surprisingly nice plants, if allowed to flower.
I aim to build as many habitats as space allows, even mini wetlands in half barrels etc, or maybe a stumpery of logs for a woodland glade, with ferns and woodland flowers

[Chipchopper]

KUSTARD, Could that little blue flower be, selfheal?

[Backdrifter]

Thanks everyone.

@rowanwitch - Since posting this q we've thought further and sought more advice and what you said chimes with what our thinking now is. We'll be looking at a total strip-back as you described. Your other advice about sowing and maintaining is useful too, many thanks.

[ladybirder]

Rowan, bees love dandelions. Backdrifter please read the article.

https://reviveabee.com/do-bees-eat-dandelions/#:~:text=Yes%2C%20a%20range%20of%20bee,the%20wildlife%20in%20your%20garden.

[Chipchopper]

I've changed my stubborn mind about dandelions, too, I also like goat's beard, which are similar but with massive seed heads, I've saved some seed this year.

[KUSTARD]

No idea chip. The gardener told me but it wasn’t self heal. Might have said it was plantain - does that sound right?

[rowanwitch]

I would grow dandelions separately and make sure I take the dead heads off so they don't seed. As a composite flower there are better options for bees especially chamomile, feverfew, and ox eye daisy

[KUSTARD]

Just googled plantain. It definitely isn’t that. It’s a lovely little purple thing. I will ask him again next week

[Chipchopper]

Not really KUSTARD, Speedwell maybe?

[Backdrifter]

Thanks @ladybirder. We do want to encourage the bees. rowanwitch, your comment on dandelions noted.

[KUSTARD]

No Chip. I've googled speedwell and it's not that!!!! Maybe it's some rare exotic plant which only grows in my garden lol!!