Walking in early May through masses of Ox-eye daisies, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Coreopsis lanceolata and poppies just beginning to bloom, it's hard to believe that just a few years ago this same area was covered with kudzu and mulberries. For artist Cooper Sanchez and his wife Michelle, transforming their back yard in Clarkston, Georgia into a meadow is a labor of love. Creating a meadow garden was a vision they had early on.
Once established, and if it's done properly, with consideration to the natural plant communities in your region, a meadow, unlike a lawn, is not only beautiful but can be low maintenance. Meadow gardening is just one way to have a more sustainable landscape.
I asked Cooper to tell me about how and what he did to begin his meadow. He says that when he started he had to take down the mulberries to bring the kudzu to eye level. "It was an acre of this-the hardest work you can imagine." He goes on to say one should be prepared as it will probably take two years to clear an area that is heavily infested with weeds. He learned early on when trying to eradicate kudzu that you will never dig it all up. He tried hand pulling and weed killers. He found it effective to poison kudzu vines at the ground level rather than spraying the foliage. (If you don't want to use any chemicals you can cover large areas with black plastic with 3 to 4 inches of mulch on top of the plastic. Leave the plastic for 2 to 3 months which should kill most of the weeds.)
Once he got rid of most of the weeds the soil had a fair bit of organic matter and he was ready to sow wildflower seeds. Cooper selected and planted his first seeds two-and-a-half years ago. Fall is an ideal time in the South to sow wildflower seeds but you can also sow seeds in the spring. He broadcast all of the seed by hand and has added some plants too. The first year he had plenty of plants but many of the perennials did not bloom until this year. Ox-eye daisies are his spring work horse this year. There are also yarrow, Achillea species, poppies and grasses. As far as colors, at first he wanted to limit his palette to mostly white and warm colored flowers. He thought that if he were going to have a potentially wild and unruly meadow, at least he would have a sympathetic color scheme. Greens are also great and this year he has a lot more cool colors arriving on the scene. And yet, it is only somewhat planned. In addition to yarrow and coreopsis there are larkspurs of blue violet and other colors.
When I asked about the biggest surprise he replied that everyday there are more and more surprises including lots of bees, birds and other wildlife that is attracted to the meadow. It turns out that some of the roadside weeds and native grasses he rescued growing along railroad tracks and under power line easements are some of his favorites. In fall the garden will turn shades of rust and brown. I asked when he might mow down the meadow and he is not sure yet. He makes reference to the Dutch garden designer Piet Oudolf who leaves his dead plants for structure in the winter garden waiting until the last minute to cut them down, maybe February. Cooper says they will wait and see. For now he looks forward to seeing what will bloom this summer.
Erica's plant pick
Jethro Tull Coreopsis
Botanical name: Coreopsis 'Jethro Tull'
About the plant: This perennial hybrid coreopsis has golden-yellow fluted petals and blooms for months in the garden beginning in mid-spring. It grows 15 to 18 inches high and forms clumps 18 to 24 inches wide.
Use in the garden: Mix it in the meadow garden or border for long season color. Combine it with Ox-eye daisies, coneflowers, salvias and poppies.
Planting and Care: This perennial likes a lean well-drained soil and full sun.
Source: Ashe-Simpson Garden Center
4961 Peachtree Industrial Blvd.
Atlanta, GA 30341
770-458-3224
Seed Source for Wildflowers: American Meadows
or call 877-309-7333
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