[project] transforming a small ecosystem

[Birna Rørslett]

Most of the species documented so nicely from this patch are annuals or short-lived perennials. Ecosystems move towards a "climax stage" if external conditions are approx. steady state. In this case the climax probably is a low-diversity vegetation cover in which Aegopodium predominates. Enhanced occurrence of many insects butterflies and snails is likely.

[Frank Fremerey]

I hope snails will be in shorter supply and my effort to supress Aegopodium is successful. I'd like to encourage a balance of perennials and self seeding annuals with a higher diversity to attract bees and butterflies and birds nesting in the neighboring trees. Bushes are not a great idea because the high population of cats will probably kill all birds trying to nest there. I will also add an espalier of fruit on the south end to attract more birds and bees.

[Frank Fremerey]

Can I judge that your ecosystem has started to work as planned?  Nice to see the small lives starting to grow. 

ants and bees and butterflies and some beetles are starting to appear. My guess is that of the 80+ species I have sown only 15 to 20 have yet appeared, but many are later blooming, like summer or autumn

[Frank Fremerey]

two additiond from the frog perspective with a wide angle:

[Birna Rørslett]

Dandelions are a certain sign of an ecosystem with latent instability .... The Northern Dead-Nettle likewise.

[Frank Fremerey]

Dandelions are a certain sign of an ecosystem with latent instability .... The Northern Dead-Nettle likewise.

My current task is to stabilize the system.

What would you recommend?

PS: My goal is to attract insects and birds

[Birna Rørslett]

Put a goat into the system.

[Frank Fremerey]

Put a goat into the system.

ok. I try to find a "rent a goat" and fence the animal into my 30sqm. How long should it stay there?

[Birna Rørslett]

Until you eat it? The point is that a functional ecosystem needs a flow of energy and material through it with feedback loops. It cannot be stagnant. The arrow of time has to be unidirectional.

[Frank Fremerey]

Until you eat it? The point is that a functional ecosystem needs a flow of energy and material through it with feedback loops. It cannot be stagnant. The arrow of time has to be unidirectional.

I do not think I will get a permit to keep a goat in the front garden...

[Fons Baerken]

You can mow it, whatever you do the vegetation will change into a monoculture, unless you culture your patch into a vegetable garden for instance.

[Frank Fremerey]

You can mow it, whatever you do the vegetation will change into a monoculture, unless you culture your patch into a vegetable garden for instance.

mow & mulch

or

mow & take away the nutrients?


it has not been a monoculture before I took over and I did sow the seeds of 80+ species, why should a monoculture be set?

[Birna Rørslett]

Mow and remove. Once or twice a year.

You'll probably end up in a monooculture of Aegropodium anyway.

[Frank Fremerey]

Mow and remove. Once or twice a year.

You'll probably end up in a monooculture of Aegropodium anyway.

currently Aegopodium is a minority. Esp where mustard is predominant. I plan to selectively uproot Aegopodium  whenever I see it.

Mow an remove? good.

[Birna Rørslett]

Do *not* uproot it -- it'll just disperse even faster from the cut rhizome parts.