The Meadow Makers' Network Forum

Has anyone noticed a lack of yellow rattle in established meadows this year? Having noticed much more tall grass growth recently, I realised there was not a lot of yellow rattle. Could it be because of all the rain this year? it hasn't happened like this previously.

I'm in Shropshire and our rattle has done extremely well again this year - too well really. I'm looking for people/meadow owners who'd like some seed for their meadows in a bid to limit the spread of ours. It is growing on a well drained, south facing slope, but is also in evidence in the wetter part of the meadow too. Did you get overnight frosts last winter?

Our rattle is doing well in Chagford. I've started to harvest seed already.

Valto63 - there is an abundance of grass in everyone's meadows at the moment due to - 1. the very wet spring and summer, 2. the fact that yellow rattle plants die mid-late June, and therefore the grass is no longer being parasitised. Was your sward short in spring?

newinvention - in my experience harvesting harvesting rattle seed from a meadow does not have a significant impact on it's abundance, even using a brush harvester - it produces so much seed. You could consider grazing/cutting the sward in April or having the sward long before germination time to prevent seedlings establishing.

Thanks everyone, Probably the very wet spring is to blame. I am trying to thin out the thick grass growth which I think it is foxtail and is hiding some rattle.