Seasonal guide

A year in the meadow

The calendar matters more than anything else. Sown at the wrong moment, even a perfect mix will fail.

Month by month

autumn     the best sowing window — sep to oct
winter     seed stratifies in the cold, quietly
spring     first germination; resist mowing
summer     the bloom; leave it standing
late sum   cut after seed set, rake it off

One rule

Never cut before the flowers have set seed. Cut too early once and you've erased next year.