The Chelsea Chop is a maintenance cut named after the illustrious RHS Chelsea Flower Show that takes place in late May. This maintenance technique promises to transform your wildflower space into a haven of vibrant blooms and lush greenery.
Why Consider a Chelsea Chop?
There are two main benefits:
• Species rebalance. If a particular wildflower or grass species is dominating the space, a Chelsea Chop can reset the flowering life cycle of that species. The cut opens the sward of the wildflower space, allowing sunlight and rain to reach shorter and over shadowed wildflowers species, it will also help to deplete unwanted fertility in that area. This helps to rebalance the variety in your sward.
• Extended bloom time: The Chelsea Chop encourages compact, fresh growth. This results in a prolonged flowering season, typically well into late September and even, October compared to the usual late August.
The Chelsea Chop is an optional but proactive maintenance cut, that promotes healthier growth and a longer-lasting display of colour. If you are happy with the balance of your wildflower space, this cut is not necessary.
When to Chop: The “Year of the Grasses”
Typically, the Chelsea Chop is done in late May/early June, however, weather conditions can influence the timing.
This year, cooler temperatures and extra rainfall has led to a slower growing season. It has also created ideal conditions for grasses, leading to what we at Wildflower Turf Ltd are calling the “year of the grasses”.
Adapting the Chop for This Season:
Due to the slower growth, we recommend delaying the Chelsea Chop this year until mid-late June. This gives your wildflowers extra time to establish themselves before the cutback.
Did you know, we’re sponsoring the ‘Diversity Is Queen’ exhibit in the Discovery area of Chelsea’s Great Pavilion during the show on 21-25 May. We have donated 18 square meters of our Landscape34 wildflower turf®, to The Bumblebee Conservation Trust to create a bee-friendly habitat.
Mastering the Chop: A Step-by-Step Guide:
Here’s how to perform the Chelsea Chop:
1. Cut it back: Using a hedge trimmer, strimmer, or a mower with a heather deck (set to 20-25cm), cut the entire wildflower space to a height of 20cm.
2. Clear the cuttings: Remove all the plant material you’ve cut back. This will allow the sun to access the wildflower species that are still establishing and will prevent adding extra unwanted fertility to the area.
3. Optional watering: If rain isn’t forecast, give the area a good watering to help speed up recovery.
By incorporating the Chelsea Chop into your wildflower maintenance routine this year, you’ll be able to keep on top of the surplus grass growth this year and develop a showstopping wildflower space that flourishes through the season. The mandatory Autumn cut is still required in late September/early October.