The property
This 4.5 acre meadow in Haverford was designed to feature native grass and wildflower species. Replacing large areas of lawn with low-maintenance perennials not only reduced mowing requirements, but provides valuable wildlife habitat for pollinators and songbirds.
Design goals
- Replace acres of mown lawn with a native meadow
- Cut mowing and maintenance across the property
- Create real habitat for pollinators and songbirds
Challenges
Establishing a meadow at this scale means getting seed mixes, timing, and the first two seasons of management right before anything looks intentional.
Plant strategy
A seeded mix of native grasses and wildflowers — coreopsis, rudbeckia, butterfly milkweed, and switchgrass among them — chosen to carry color through summer and form through winter.
Installation
Seed mixed on site and sown with meadow seeding equipment, then managed through establishment as seedlings filled in.
The finished landscape
Acres that used to be mowed every week now flower all summer and stand through the winter.
- Design budget
- $2,800–$3,600
- Installation budget
- Custom
