M eadows are perhaps the ultimate example of plants growing better together. They speak of abundant wildness, beauty and a habitat rich in flora and fauna. But many gardeners fear they are difficult, complicated and take years to achieve. That might be the case if you are trying to establish a native meadow from seed in an existing grassland, but there are other much simpler and more achievable approaches.
And perhaps the easiest of the lot are annual exotic meadows.
I've established these long-flowering, colour-rich, pollinatorfriendly patches many times and you can, too.
Annual meadows
Annual exotic meadow mixes skilfully blend plants borrowed from many parts of the world to create a rich tapestry flowering from May to November. Mixes of this nature often feature the likes of long-flowering linaria in candy colours, California poppies in rich orange, and delicate blue phacelia, not to mention lofty umbels such as ammi and meadow classics such as poppies and cornflowers. The species mix usually varies in height from 20cm up to 80cm, with a mix of forms and leaf shapes ensuring they physically support one another while providing a non-stop display and a reliable eight-month-long feast for pollinators.
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Esta historia es de la edición March 2025 de BBC Gardeners World.
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A welcome home
Having taken on a largely neglected, sizeable front garden during the pandemic, Susan Downing used her eye for colour, design and harmony to create a relaxing, sociable space for family, neighbours and passersby
Master your mix
Nick's guide to combining plants In this new series Nick Bailey shows how to mix plants in natural planting communities for a happy, healthy garden. First up, we look at meadows
The team is back
While Monty shares the latest from Longmeadow, the other GW presenters are preparing for a dynamic year ahead. Executive Producer Gary Broadhurst shares an exclusive glimpse into 2025
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Discover the joys of greenhouse gardening this spring and summer with Alan's expert guides, beginning with how to choose your ideal greenhouse and what to start growing
Next-gen gardening
Arit Anderson considers how we can encourage and nurture the next generation of gardeners
Garden globetrotting
While its rocky terrain provides challenges for Madeirans, the island's subtropical climate and year-round mild temperatures make it a big draw for visiting gardeners, as Emma Crawforth discovers
Growing THE GOOD LIFE
Everything's springing back to life for urban veg grower Sara Ward, so it's time for a few key jobs
Time to put down roots
Trees can bring benefits to gardens of all shapes and sizes. Carol Klein explains what to consider when choosing one for your plot and reveals her favourites
Fresh new start
Want to grow delicious homegrown food this year? Monty shows you how to prepare for a summer of delicious harvests
Just like starting over
As Gardeners’ World returns, Monty Don unveils his new plans for Longmeadow’s iconic Jewel Garden
