I'm in PNW. The site gets full on summer long. I had the soil tilled but it's incredibly rocky. Do I need to break it up more and remove the rocks. I have some soil I can mix into it but not enough to put a full layer of topsoil. My understanding is that Yarrow is pretty rugged. Can I just throw the seed down. This will be mowed and kept like a lawn. TIA
(sidenote: please no lectures about monocultures. I'm not a purist).
by Viola_sempervi
8 Comments
Here’s a close up.
https://preview.redd.it/vzy5dprbz4ne1.jpeg?width=2344&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4f6da3d6dbf9ab46a43cb7765426e94561033670
Rocks should be fine for the yarrow, it’s more a question of if its safe for your mower
My only advice is to seed densely and water well the first couple weeks. Giving the yarrow its very best survival chances and overwhelming weeds is gonna be the key.
Yarrow is native to my area & LOVES it in my backyard, and you (I’m being 100% literal here) cannot stick a shovel in the ground without hitting a rock. Its where lawnmower blades come to die. A pickaxe is considered an essential gardening tool. You get it. Yarrow loves it rocky
Yup, you’ll be fine. I would recommend maybe just raking up any loose rocks that are right at the surface now and again after the yarrow takes root. You really don’t want flying rocks from a mower.
I love a mowed yarrow lawn, so soft! I made a popular post here about yarrow lawns last year. Highly recommend!
I think it’ll look really nice, but are you going to add other plants? It’ll still be monoculture if you just do yarrow? Also adding more plant variety can help with weed suppression
You should consider not mowing large parts of it and letting it flower. One of the commercial properties I help maintain has sections that we let yarrow and other plants go wild in the ditch behind the parking lot. It’s super beautiful and always a treat to visit and see what’s in bloom. Also the insects love it!
Also in PNW with a backyard about the same size and slope. I get full sun so I’m curious how you end up going with this. I have about 30% of my yard already covered in yarrow, the rest is grass, clovers, and dandelions.
Diversify fam. Natives for all seasons.