Mike Long, Director of Stewardship
Park goers recently voiced their concerns over the mowing of common milkweed and other wildflowers in meadows at Mercer County Park.
The Park Commission responded to those concerned individuals but wanted to share more information about meadow management for those interested in the habitat enhancement for pollinators. The mowing was not a mistake, but a key step in establishing new meadow habitat.
Populations of pollinators such as bees and butterflies have dramatically decreased due to habitat loss/fragmentation, diseases, and pesticide use. The Park Commission has made pollinator habitat creation and enhancement a focus to help combat the decline.
In 2021 the Stewardship Department partnered with the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Xerces Society to implement over 30 acres of lawn to meadow conversion at Mercer County Park. Xerces is an international nonprofit organization considered by many to be the foremost authority on pollinator conservation. The Stewardship Department followed the steps outlined by Xerces to create the meadows at Mercer County Park. These steps are described further below.
The first stage of lawn to meadow conversion requires preparing the site for planting. Many turf grasses found in lawns are capable of outcompeting native grasses and wildflowers. To establish a native plant community quickly, these grasses must be removed or killed by solarizing the soil or using herbicide. Once free of living turf grass, the area can be seeded with desired pollinator species, native grasses and a nurse crop like common oat or cereal rye.
Even under perfect conditions, many native wildflowers can take several years to appear. The nurse crop, also called a cover crop, is typically an annual species that establishes quickly and acts as a placeholder until wildflowers and desired grasses germinate. Despite successful cover crop germination, some undesirable annual species often find their way into the project area. Mowing is performed during the summer, as needed, in the first 1-2 years to prevent these undesirable species from going to seed. Desirable perennial species return and produce seed while the presence of undesirable annuals decreases. After year 2, invasive plants may be selectively spot treated with herbicide to reduce their presence and maintain the native plant community.
Once wildflowers and native grasses are well-established, these areas will be strategically mowed or burned in late winter or early spring to provide nectar and cover in line with the life cycle of pollinating insects. Mowing portions of the meadow, known as strip mowing, is a strategy sometimes used to provide cover and area to forage for overwintering birds.
To summarize the steps of meadow creation:
- Prep site and remove existing vegetation
- Seed with desired wildflowers and native grasses
- Perform mowing during growing season as needed in first 1-2 years
- After year 2 spot treat invasive species
- Mow in late winter to reduce presence of woody species
The Stewardship Department appreciates concerns shared about the mowing of new meadows, but it is an important step in successful habitat creation. Keep an eye on the meadows in the coming years and enjoy the colorful display of native wildflowers. Take pictures, but please don’t pick them!
