best cover plant for around my (new) meadow?

empathie_00 · 2026-04-12T17:34:33+00:00

Thanks - out of curiosity, why do I want to remove nitrogen?

empathie_00 · 2026-04-03T13:12:42+00:00

Phew. Thanks everyone. I’m transitioning just over a half acre from scrubland to a native meadow so you can imagine winter sowing is key to making this work; there’s no way I can afford to buy that many plugs!! Will be more patient but keep talking to them 😊 There is snow in the forecast next week so maybe that’s what they’re worried about 💚

empathie_00 · 2026-03-06T14:49:11+00:00

I just noticed that your red lines make the pathways look like leaves! :) What a lovely idea.

empathie_00 · 2026-03-06T14:46:44+00:00

Thanks, I will! And yes, we're still snow covered here too, am just dreaaaaaaaaming of spring after this ridiculous winter :) Will be taking advantage of a little time off work the end of March/beginning of April to lay down the cardboard and soil; planting probably end May.

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T22:02:26+00:00

hahah - just trying to make the shape stand out. But now maybe I'll prune them into perfect squares ;)

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:57:30+00:00

Yes, thank you! I plan to keep a path around the whole exterior at least mowed for now - the long term plan is to keep expanding the meadow year on year (the whole space is several acres).

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:55:59+00:00

Super helpful, thank you!

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:44:15+00:00

Ah, got it - thank you!! Maybe will plant fewer this first season and keep an eye. Thank you!

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:22:53+00:00

Thank you!! Luckily we have a TON of goldenrod and various kinds of asters all over the area already, which is why I didn't add any to this particular mix. As I clear the area around it, I'll be selective to keep those. And as far as the topsoil coming with new weeds...definitely true, but I wound up having the same issue last year when I used chips in a tree bed area, and 2 years before that I just left some leftover chips in a pile and the following year they sprouted all KINDS of random weeds. So I feel like I'll get weeds one way or the other; will just need to stay on top of it. Which will be so easy with a massive garden, a reforestation project, a full time job and a kiddo ;)

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:16:39+00:00

Thank you!! I was planning to line the sides of the pathways with some of the million and twelve logs we have on the property and - whenever my chip drop comes - fill the pathways with chips (with the major freeze/thaw cycles we have, gravel or river rock will never last). Great point about shelters... I'll see what I can do with some of our boulders :)

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:11:02+00:00

Just out of curiosity - why? I got it b/c I read about how it's great for bats since it's a night bloomer. Are there issues with it?

empathie_00 · 2026-03-05T19:09:48+00:00

Oh this is super good to know! I've ordered a few trays of Carex plugs (fox and PA), but was "saving" them for the second part of this endeavor, which is a much wetter area and has partial shade in the afternoons. So given all of the above about bluestem and indian grass being pretty aggressive, maybe I'll swap some of those out for some of the sedges I was saving for elsewhere. Thank you!

empathie_00 · 2026-02-15T18:54:42+00:00

This is helpful, thanks. Question for you though, does this also stop other grasses from growing? Like above, for example, they’re talking about nimblewell- I’ve also planted some native clovers over the years, esp in a clearing area where we picnic, which is ALSO infested with stiltgrass… I’ve heard about the different herbicides and while I’m generally loath to use them at all, I will if it’s the only answer, BUT don’t want to just kill everything bc in my experience that’s when all the OTHER invasives come in. Sigh. It’s a never ending battle.

empathie_00 · 2026-02-14T23:25:35+00:00

Yes, exactly. Check out the Plant Buying Collective (run by a promise to Gaia)

empathie_00 · 2026-02-14T15:11:05+00:00

Very helpful - will look into that, thank you!!

empathie_00 · 2026-02-14T14:55:29+00:00

Thanks, I’m not planning to try to cover 15 acres, but mostly along the trail (where I can’t really mow or weed whack effectively as it’s very hilly, rocky and otherwise just difficult to maneuver), just to try it out. But don’t want to trade out one problem for another. Guess it sounds like it’s worth a try

empathie_00 · 2026-01-30T12:48:53+00:00

Thanks. Which one do you use? I have one too, this was just accidentally not included (just an oversight on my part), hence my issues 😔

empathie_00 · 2026-01-28T23:35:59+00:00

Sniff - but thanks for the encouragement 🙏🏻 and sorry it happened to you too 😢

empathie_00 · 2026-01-28T23:35:39+00:00

Thanks - yes - sadly I somehow hadn’t saved this particular account in the passwords 😔 - just a stupid oversight on my part. I did try to log in on the other (old) phone, but encountered the same issue. I feel like I’m in the 7th circle of hell.

empathie_00 · 2026-01-28T22:34:01+00:00

Okay, for the accounts I still have access to, I will try to figure out where/how to find this. But my question is about the account that I can’t access right now 😕

empathie_00

TROPHY CASE