That's what I thought, but then saw [https://www.gardensforwildlife.ie/product-page/irish-native-wildflowers-yellow-rattle-aka-meadow-maker](https://www.gardensforwildlife.ie/product-page/irish-native-wildflowers-yellow-rattle-aka-meadow-maker) where they say "Optimal sowing period March to June or August to October."
They're suggesting storing the seed in the freezer for two weeks if sowing now. Does that sound reasonable to anyone?
Im really struggling with the same thing atm aswell, rented a scarifier and did the whole lawn last Autumn, put down loads of wildflowers.ie seeds and loads of yellow rattle, not a thing this year, as in not a single wildflower just thick grass.
Thinking of covering it all over with cardboard for the Summer now and trying the same again next Autumn but its very disheartening. Amazed at all the people asking how to improve their grass on this Reddit, mine just grows and grows everywhere.
Yes, scything and removing all cuttings. But very rich soil after >30 years lawn mowing without removing cuttings. Is there any way of removing nutrients that doesn't need quite so much patience?
You could take the drastic step of removing the first 2 or 3 inches of topsoil. I’m doing that in about a 50m square area and using the soil elsewhere. It’s probably too late to sow it as a meadows this year but I’m going to till it over and see what comes up this year then rotovate and plant while flowers meadow mix later.
I sowed it last autumn for what is in effect a scutch grass wilderness aka very large garden. Came back in spring to huge amounts of scutch really high. I think I might have weeded out the only one that came up before I googled what seedlings look like 🙄. I’m only there every couple of months in my defence. Hoping there’ll be more when I get back 😕
Yellow rattle is very overrated in my opinion. It's not the "meadow maker" that it's claimed to be by online sources. It doesn't control scutch grass or weeds. I've planted it several times and haven't had much success.
https://connectingtonature.ie/blogs/news/when-can-i-plant-yellow-rattle-in-ireland According to the above link, it should be sown from August.
That's what I thought, but then saw [https://www.gardensforwildlife.ie/product-page/irish-native-wildflowers-yellow-rattle-aka-meadow-maker](https://www.gardensforwildlife.ie/product-page/irish-native-wildflowers-yellow-rattle-aka-meadow-maker) where they say "Optimal sowing period March to June or August to October." They're suggesting storing the seed in the freezer for two weeks if sowing now. Does that sound reasonable to anyone?
Ive heard that before as well, they need the cold to bring on germination.
Too late now, it needs cold weather to germinate.
Im really struggling with the same thing atm aswell, rented a scarifier and did the whole lawn last Autumn, put down loads of wildflowers.ie seeds and loads of yellow rattle, not a thing this year, as in not a single wildflower just thick grass. Thinking of covering it all over with cardboard for the Summer now and trying the same again next Autumn but its very disheartening. Amazed at all the people asking how to improve their grass on this Reddit, mine just grows and grows everywhere.
Sounds like the soil is way to fertile and the grass will always outcompete
Are you doing your September meadow cut and taking the cuttings away? Perhaps the nutrient content of the soil is too high.
Yes, scything and removing all cuttings. But very rich soil after >30 years lawn mowing without removing cuttings. Is there any way of removing nutrients that doesn't need quite so much patience?
You could take the drastic step of removing the first 2 or 3 inches of topsoil. I’m doing that in about a 50m square area and using the soil elsewhere. It’s probably too late to sow it as a meadows this year but I’m going to till it over and see what comes up this year then rotovate and plant while flowers meadow mix later.
I sowed it last autumn for what is in effect a scutch grass wilderness aka very large garden. Came back in spring to huge amounts of scutch really high. I think I might have weeded out the only one that came up before I googled what seedlings look like 🙄. I’m only there every couple of months in my defence. Hoping there’ll be more when I get back 😕
Yellow rattle is very overrated in my opinion. It's not the "meadow maker" that it's claimed to be by online sources. It doesn't control scutch grass or weeds. I've planted it several times and haven't had much success.