Meadow Making on a Small Scale: An Urban Meadow How To

Meadow Making on a Small Scale Urban Meadow How To

Troy Springer, Springer Environmental

How do we define an urban meadow?

• Less than 50K square feet

• Very often less than 2000 square feet

• Functions like an ecosystem

• Plants born, live their lives, reproduce, die, and the cycle repeats

• Provides more services to people than strictly wildlife and habitat preservation

• Has stricter aesthetic value and taste preferences

• Must confirm to other land use criteria

Characteristics of Urban Meadow

• Has a wide range of formality and ecosystem value.

• Often incorporated in existing traditional landscape settings.

• May contain strictly herbaceous wildflowers and grasses, but may also include woody shrubs and trees.

Design Methods

Site Prep

What Components go into the Meadow?

• Look for clues which show what kind of conditions you are dealing with.

• Use a high percentage of plants that are indigenous to the region and suited for the conditions.

• Manage diversity throughout the landscape.

• Learn what plants are very adaptable, and what plants require a small conditions window.

• Have a high percentage of grasses.

Fall Y’all!

What is the Best Mulch?

• Pine straw out performs other mulches in allowing water absorption

• Reflects less heat upwards towards plants

• Looks better when a thin layer is required

• A thin layer is required if regeneration is the goal, or the meadow was built from seed

• Helps keep seed from drifting

• Keeps soil temperature from getting too hot

Maintenance

• Meadow is not complete when initially planted.

• Maintenance become part of the development process.

• The first year is the hardest.

• Meadow starts functioning properly after 3 years.

• Good meadow hygiene will allow the site to establish faster.

• Timing is everything.

Plant Identification is Critically Important

Do What Nature Does

Irrigation Concerns

10/20/24

What to Expect Long Term

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