Creating a poor meadow - this is the best way to proceed

A paradise for butterflies and bees - create a poor meadow

Rough meadows are very species-rich

Rough meadows are among the most species-rich meadow types, as the lime-rich and nutrient-poor soil ensures that plants that are particularly weak in terms of competition thrive - in contrast to, for example, a fat meadow, where only fast-growing grasses and flowers have a chance due to the high nitrogen content. As a result, poor meadows contribute to the fact that rare plant species are saved from extinction. In addition, rare butterflies serve as a source of food for rare butterflies.

Typical plants for rough meadows

Rough meadows typically have an almost manageable number of flowers and herbs, all of which cannot possibly be listed here. A few typical representatives should nevertheless be named:

Trembling grass (Briza media)
Carnation (Armeria maritima)
Lesser ormennig (Agrimonia eupatoria)
Common cowslip (Primula veris)
Bulbous buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus)
Pechnelke (Silene viscaria)
Upright brome ((Bromus erectus)
Little meadow button (Sanguisorba minor)

Different types of rough meadows

Which flowers and herbs can be found on a poor meadow is primarily determined by the type of poor or dry meadow. In Germany (and in general in Central Europe), the sand-poor meadows and the lime-poor meadows are particularly widespread.

Create a poor meadow

In order to create a lean meadow, you first have to lean the existing soil. If, for example, a dry meadow is to be created from a lawn or a greasy meadow, you must first prevent the vigorous grasses from growing, because they displace flowers and herbs that grow more slowly. Since grasses need a lot of nitrogen for their growth, you should stop all fertilization as a first step. Then proceed as follows:

Cut the lawn / meadow as short as possible.
Use a rake to remove moss and dead grass.
Pick out dandelions and other stubborn growths and roots.
Scarify the area.
If necessary, dig them up.
Improve the soil with a thick layer of soil-sand mixture.
Crumble larger crumbs of earth and rake the surface smooth.
Throw out the selected seed mixture for lean meadow over a large area.
Mix the seeds with sand to make them more evenly distributed.
Lightly rake the seeds and press down.
Keep the surface slightly damp, especially in the first few weeks.

Rare meadows should not be fertilized under any circumstances, as otherwise fast-growing grasses will regain the upper hand and biodiversity will decline.