We have been “rewilding” our farm (40 acres) in the US for 2 seasons now. My answer to when to mow is “after the fall bird migration”. Birds are dying of starvation and they need every bug and every seed head they can find to be healthy for the migration event. We have spent 25 years mowing, mowing, mowing and it’s hard to stay off the tractor and give the birds a chance, but that’s my intention.

@SisterDogmata

9 ай бұрын

Love this comment! Here in the UK we get lots of finches feeding on the seed heads in winter. Always worth leaving things as late as poss.

@jasonb2089

8 ай бұрын

Bird watcher and professional gardener here in the US. Thanks for your efforts!

I was thinking about this a lot recently. I have incredibly tidy neighbours and I havent cut my "grass" at all in 2 years except for some trimming with shears. Its getting better and better and the grasshoppers are really loud. I get comments that my garden needs a mow, but I also get so many bees and butterflies and other insects so I choose to listen to them rather than obsessively tidy people. But I was wondering whether to trim bits or not, and when to do so, so this video was ideal! Thanks. I managed to stop the council mowers in May this year by having a word when they came by. We have a big south facing steep grassy verge they look after. They'd cut half by the time I got out to them, but they were happy to leave the rest and said they really love it when residents ask about rewilding. It looked a bit odd for a couple of months being different heights but the flowers are wonderful - lots of achillea at the moment! Again, the neighbours are split on who likes it and who says its messy but since the council are prety difficult to get in touch with by the complainers, I think the long grass will remain safe for a while 😂

I've now replaced my Hayter motor mower with a scythe. People think it must be harder work but It's not once you take into account the annual maintenance; trips to the local garage/halfords for fuel and engine oil and then getting the thing started after months in the shed.... It always was temperamental but now that I'm encouraging wildflowers instead of a neatly mown lawn the motor mower gets used so infrequently it's become a significant effort to get going every time! Another bonus is that a scythe just hangs up against the wall, freeing up significant shed space! I'd say scything an average UK town garden is no more effort than going for a run and doubly gratifying!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

6 ай бұрын

I love this comment! This is exactly what we need to encourage and you've explained and justified it completely here, thank you :) So glad that you're reaping (literally!) the benefits of gardening in this way and I expect the grateful creatures are reward alone. Thanks ever so much for this, best wishes - Joel

It's astonishing that even such a small piece of land creates its own micro ecosystem. Brilliant!

Hi Joe Mines not being cut at all because even the long stems are used This year it has been brilliant esp for blue butterflies hedgehogs even the odd badger

Very helpful, I couldn't bear to cut mine in July or August because of all the flowers, bees and butterflies and it's nice to have that confimation - I always leave long bits too, sounds like I've been doing it right by accident!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Brilliant - that's absolutely the way to do it! Accident or not, you'll be rewarded for your lack of effort! haha - thanks Mike, best wishes - Joel

Hi Joel. On the subject of looking out for amphibians; I have two watering cans which are left outside. Earlier this Summer I was very surprised to see a small frog had managed to climb up and find it's way in to one of the watering cans but couldn't climb out again. Sadly, the poor little thing had died. Now I leave the watering cans on their side so whatever finds it's way in can safely find it's way out again

@SisterDogmata

9 ай бұрын

I found a dead mouse in my watering can last year and have done exactly the same as you. I also put a couple of branches in the water trough to help creatures crawl out if the fall in.

@lauraburystedmundsyoga8231

9 ай бұрын

@@SisterDogmata same, but a vole 😢

@philiphardwick1645

8 ай бұрын

Happened to me with a Wren one year. I was devastated to find it drowned in there

We've turned our small front garden from a gravel desert into a wildflower riot! This year, in spite of the busy road & people walking by, I've seen at least one vole & lots of goldfinches eating the knapweed seeds! Also dunnocks, sparrows & evidence of a song thrush (smashed snail shells). It's amazing what turns up 💚

Thank you very helpful!❤

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

Ай бұрын

You're so welcome! Best wishes, Joel

This is perfect, I have been wondering what the best time to mow would be regarding the wildlife and flowers and such. I have a big field and I'm going to make a food forest on part of it. The majority of the field will be left for the wildlife for now. I have mowed it once in 2023, that was in may, and left the vegetation to grow for the rest of the year, it's all still standing, or fallen over, so now I'm going to follow your advice and mow in march for the first time again. Thanks for the advice! I'm in Sweden btw, moved here a year ago from The Netherlands. Also on part of our lawn we noticed lots of different flowers growing, and we left those to grow too, mowed around that part and let them go to seed.

Top video once again thanks for sharing 🐸💚🐸

thanks Joel for another great video, great topic and I love your slightly chaotic style, you can sense the love for the wild life even if it takes twice as long to get to what you want to talk about. that is good knowledge, please keep it up

Answered my question before I'd asked. Leave some areas long over winter for hibernating invertebrates and larvae of some species that continue to feed on warmer evenings.

Great advice as always Joel. We did a hay cut in early July to about 40% of our wildflower meadows when we were there on holidays as it was so overgrown with thistles and ox-eye daisies (both on the noxious weed list in B.C) we couldn't see the garden path any longer and had to tidy up quite a bit. The rest of the untouched meadows were teaming with insects, butterflies, and hummingbirds, it was incredible. Will forward some photos. Hope you and Nikki are well!

I live in the states in a high desert climate and have been wondering about this. We have 40 acres that we will eventually be building on and moving to but in the meantime I am trying to establish as much native ecosystem as possible. It has a couple meadowy regions that I would love to establish with native meadow plants. We are in drought July/august and into September so a lot of our fields are bone dry by now and a potential wildfire a hazard. It would be interesting to find someone who specializes in this locally that would understand this unique climate and the wildfire risk.

@Hayley-sl9lm

8 ай бұрын

Maybe there is a time of the year that you could do controlled burn, instead of cutting? I would definitely try to see if there is someone local who has the expertise on that. Good luck 🤞

Hey Joel! Great advice as usual! Not many wildflowers in mine this year but so many grasshoppers, moths, froglets and two voles! Have a bit of thick grass taking over in patches which I might remove and sow a few wildflower seeds to help it along. Hope you and yours are all ok. Best wishes.

Thanks!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Thank you Carol, so much. Apologies for the delay but I am just trying to catch up with everyone - but I wanted to express my gratitude for your generosity, it really will help and I am very grateful :) Best wishes, Joel

Thanks

Keep up the grind. These vids are amazing. (Big fan btw

Your advice makes me feel good about the way we've been rehabbing our garden! When me moved in, all of it was just non-native weeds everywhere and it had been untended for many years. I considered removing everything at once, but I knew there was no way I'd be able to replace all of the vegetation with natives in one go (not enough time or money!). So we just targeted the most problematic perrenial rhizomatous weeds first and have been gradually converting it to native meadowscape with a little fruit & veg, just accepting that some areas will look weedy for a while. It was just obvious, native or no, that there were insects living everywhere and even though it was all exotics, the fact that it had been undisturbed for so long was clearly a plus. We just have to have some common sense compassion for creatures - don't bulldoze everything, leave them somewhere to go. 😢

Thank you Joel. Nice to see you back...

I'm planning to keep a 2 to 3 foot wide strip of permanently uncut grass and flowers between the cut parts of the mini meadows and the hedges. Not fully decided on the cutting regimes themselves yet though. I think I want to cut one mini meadow to maximise spring flowers, and the other mini meadow to maximise summer flowers.

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

7 ай бұрын

Sounds great :) Do let me know how you get on and what grateful visitors turn up. Best wishes, Joel

Welcome back forget to say 😊

Fantastic video, perfectly timed and I absolutely agree with your philosophy. I've loved doing no mow summer, I don't want it to end. I'm going to do tiny bits, and leave some nice areas of cover. My biggest fear is disturbing the wildlife. Your front garden is looking absolutely spectacular. I hope you are absolutely in love with it. Well ofc you are🌻 Very much looking forward to the new videos you speak of. Until next time, thank you🐞

Awesome, been wondering about this!

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

So glad that this was helpful to you - I really appreciate your support, best wishes - Joel

Great info thankyou..I have shared with my gardener...as I think he wanted to take it all down in October/November...I do only have a small garden but I am a 'say no to mow'..I've had so many bees and butterflies this summer it has been a joy to see,plus all what is going on underneath unseen....loving all your streams🐌🐛🦋🐜🐝🐞🕷

I have an old old meadow at my house and got recomended to cut it late July. Now I have orchids in the meadow and they are full of seeds by the end of July. I have been forsed to wait with the cutting a couple of times and that effects the orchids negativly. Other stronger flowers that flower later than them take over and also some of the tree volunteers get really strong by the end of the season and do not die of the cut as much. When I asked they said it was an old tradition to cut it early. As in old days they wanted to secure the food for the animals. So I cut early in order to get better flowering and more orchids on my meadow! I appologize for bad spelling as I live in Sweden and find English hard to spell and my coputer tries to spell everything in Swedish instead! 😂

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Haha! I understand, and really appreciate you taking the time to translate, it's better than I can do :) I think I replied to a similar question above or below this one from you, but yes traditional meadows that were used just for animal feed were cut when they needed it most. In a garden setting it can be a different approach of course as it's for the wildlife rather than feed - and agreed re the orchids taking priority if they are there :) Best wishes, Joel

@evalindell2757

8 ай бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank You for taking time to answer! Loove what you do! ❤️

Thank you very much for this! I hope you’re keeping well.

Another great video, Joel. Many thanks for sharing your knowledge + experience with us. I’m planning to establish a mini wildflower meadow in my garden this Autumn - and look forward to watching your video on that too. Thanks for the link! 👍🙂

Very helpful Joel, thank you 😊👍

Perfect timing of this video Joel, I was looking at my mini meadow this morning contemplating when to cut. Still too much flora and fauna using it at the moment. Thanks for the guidance 👍🏻

Super helpful!

I have a pretty big area to cut down but with the awful weather a lot of the grasses have already fallen over so it will be hard work. I have a strimmer which I thought was a very good option for cutting back long grass as I'd read that the noise will make all the wee mammals get out of the way. However slow worms and toads oh dear! This year I had planned to cut quite high so that I could avoid the slow guys but unless we get some incredibly sunny and dry weather very soon I don't see how I can successfully cut back this year.

@SisterDogmata

9 ай бұрын

Fingers crossed we get a sunny and drier autumn.

Geez, would have loved a spoiler alert when that snake popped up. Your front garden is really beautiful, wondering if there's an vacancies in the bug "resort". My little wildflower area, had some flower seed I threw out in spring 2022 germinate this yr. And the last 2 yrs I've let the wild Queen's Lace grow, likely your wild carrot.

We had some longer growth left through the winter that had been flattened by snow (we’re in Michigan). What do you recommend is the best thing to do now? You mentioned something about taking and cutting? I’m assuming I want to remove all that dead growth…

Many thanks Joel, any opinion on what's best to cut with, I'm planning on getting a self propelled wheeled trimmer. I've left both front and back garden this year. Can't believe the increase in wildlife, even including barn swallows and dragon flies which we've never seen before, not to mention the varieties of butterfly. It's about 3000 square metres and the back is very steep, 30 1in3, cheers.

I think I may leave mine right up to early Spring Joel. I found it was easier just lifting the dead grasses and plants this spring gone.

Nicely timed video Joel. We took on an allotment this year and dedicated part of it for a pond and wildlife meadow and we’ve seen the most amazing and beautiful wildlife. I went to pick up what I thought was a white feather and it was the most gorgeous moth or butterfly. I was wondering when to start cutting it back although it’s still flowering profusely. Thanks

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

So glad that this was of help - sorry for the delay in responding but I've been flat-out on projects and only just taking a break now to catch up with everyone. Thanks ever so much for your support, and don't forget us at www.wildyourgarden.com if you need anything :) Best wishes, Joel

My rather damp Northern Ireland garden has had Hedge Vetch flower in one area, those dropped their seeds. Now another batch is flowering in another section. So, for that section I will just wait and cut until these have dropped seeds. Another area just has sorrels (while a good wildlife plant they sure come up everywhere :) and nettles/grass left so I have cut that. One section will be left long for a while, there isn't much there, just groundelder/marestails. But the frogs also need a hiding patch. Then there is "the nettle patch" which is not mowed. Trying to start a wildflower area, I had to dig out all the grass and mix some sand in the clay, as draining isn't great. Will have to see how it goes, as that is area was just sorrels/strong grasses. And the sorrels are already coming up, sigh. But I will grow some plants in pots, so if the "in the soil seeds" fail, I can always plant those and then use shears to cut the grass back.

Great video Joel, my 'meadow' has been fantastic this year and I saw my garden have its first Dragonfly patrolling around. I've a small area that is primarily long grass and Ragwort, maybe a bit bigger than your front garden, I want to sow some wildflowers seeds so I have to work out how to cut it back, I'm not too sure if I should cut it all back as it's a small area?

After watching your videos I’d love to make my own pond how much stone would you need for a 3 meter by 3 meter pond about 3 foot deep

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Hi there - I usually recommend a well depth of around 30-60cm, which is where you'll need the stone as it helps to keep the subsoil in place in vertical areas, the pond should slope gently outside of this area. Other than the well area it's not imperative that you have stone - If you wanted to send a photo or two of the area you have then I'm happy to advise on a good size, liner requirements and plants etc so you don't over-order and spend unnecessarily :) Best wishes, Joel

Hi Joel.I've intentionally left a patch of brambles at the top of my garden.But it's currently getting a bit out of hand.When is the best time to cut it back as i dont want to disturb anything that has taken residence, whatever size it may be.Thankyou

I don't know what sort of lawn/meadow i have, so when to cut it drives me crazy as they are mostly lower growing flowers and a multitude of grasses , none of the much larger plant species you usually see in a "wildflower meadow" as usually described, I have however planted some teasel and ox eye daisies this year, so now i have the additional dilemma of what to do with my yearling teasels! do i cut through them or around them?!

Certainly wouldn't cut mine back yet, It's only in the last week that the red and white campion has flowered, and still got poppies and ox-eyed daisies flowering.

Every time I think my meadow has gone over the next day there's new things flowering. Not all off my meadow is native though

I was adviced to never mow as that destoys too much. I have people coming with syths cutting my meadow. Also I think that a garden that only have a meadow and nothing else for wildlife is not very good. You need to have nectar rich flowers around your garden in other areas and plenty of hiding places and places to overwinter that is outside of the meadow! What do you think?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Hi there :) Scythes is the best way, particularly because it allows you to be closer to the meadow and spot any creatures that might need to escape. I am planning on raising awareness over the winter time and into Spring about people picking certain paths to keep mown so that they can access areas and then leave the longer areas to continue to grow - more to come on that. But it always seems "too early" to mow a meadow because a lot of creatures rely on it. But if they're not managed at all then they can easily become overgrown and flop-over in winter time, adding nutrient to the soil and allowing the more thuggish species to take over. I absolutely agree with creating a WHOLE habitat in gardens if space allows and that's what this channel is all about, a mosaic of habitats that cater for all our creatures so desperately in need right now :) Best wishes, Joel

@evalindell2757

8 ай бұрын

@@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton Thank You for your Answer!

I've only a small garden loads of pots log pile pond etc can a meadow be done in a bag of compost or pots

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Absolutely it can Michael, sorry for the delay in getting back to you - just trying to catch up with everyone whilst on a break. Your garden sounds really good already but if you wanted to drop us a line at enquiries@wildyourgarden.com I'll happily recommend the best ones for a small area/pots etc. Best wishes, Joel

@michaelrobinson8581

8 ай бұрын

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton I've bought some plants like prunus spinosa guelder rose and there coming soon holly etc I saw on your video so I may have to check the DIY hedgehog home and move that if I don't have a resident will it be okay to cut the brambles around an a honeysuckle that's crept in from no where an then plant I could send u pics of garden on email u gave

Hi Joel. I have a question about meadows. I stopped cutting a large lawn area to turn it into a meadow. We had such a water shortage and extreme heat that the tall grasses turned brown so in the end I had to cut it off. I did cut it at the tallest setting. It turned green again because we had more rain but my question is, will a regular lawn that I don't mow anymore have wildflowers in between the grass? Will it take time or is that impossible? I even spread some seed into the grass in the hope that something else would grow. Just wondering if there is space in the soil, in between the grass, for some wildflowers to grow. Thanks. Take care.

@snailboy5610

8 ай бұрын

Hi. Forgive me for jumping in. Sounds like you could do with getting some yellow rattle established in your lawn. This keeps the grass down and helps create that space for other plants to grow. After you autumn cut would be a good time to sow some seed as it needs a few days below freezing for the seed to germinate the following spring. I know there are some videos on yellow rattle on this channel if you fancy a more detailed look at what it does. I'm assuming youre in the Uk or similar region. Hope this helps

@charlotteseden9303

8 ай бұрын

Thanks. I'll see what i can do.

@Hayley-sl9lm

8 ай бұрын

Are you in the US? If so the chances are that you have mostly non-native grass that is not adapted to your climate. But it's normal to have some grasses go dormant in a really hot summer prairie situation depending on your climate. Depending on the size of the area there are a lot of options for removal (followed by reseeding with a native seed mix) -- some people use controlled burn, solarization, or if it's a small enough area you could just try to remove as much of the sod as you can and then re-seed. If you're in the UK though that advice about yellow rattle is probably good! I would also make sure not to fertilize, lower fertility makes wildflowers more competitive. I would not bother putting seed into grass, in my experience you need to clear grass away for any wildflower seeds to have a chance. Maybe you could clear small patches and seed w/wildflowers there.

@charlotteseden9303

8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the info. Yes, I am in the US. I think for now I am just going to leave my grass and let it grow taller. At least some critters like to hide in the tall grasses etc. I don't really want to get rid of the grass at this point. I have areas in my yard where wildflowers grow so I'm not going to worry about changing the grass area into a meadow. Thanks anyway for the help.

@Hayley-sl9lm

8 ай бұрын

@@charlotteseden9303 Totally I think tall grass can still shelter a lot of creatures no matter what kind. And by not mowing it maybe the roots will get deeper over time! 😊

Maybe just dont mow it..?

@WildYourGardenWithJoelAshton

8 ай бұрын

Hi Katrina, it would be ideal if it worked but meadows do need managing, in the wetter autumn/winter months the long grass will start to flop over and then that means difficulty for the new germination and flowers to grow through this, then you end up with just the thuggish species. Hope this helps - best wishes, Joel