Common Meadow Rue

[wellies101]

Hi All

I look after a nature reserve that has Common Meadow Rue (Thalictrum flavum) growing in quite good abundance and I would like to know if anyone knows how best to manage this plant to ensure that it continues to thrive? It is in a wet corner, starting to get shaded out by willow, of a flood meadow. It seems to like sunlight and the damp conditions, but I wondered if anyone else has experience of this plant and how best to manage for it?

Thanks

[Dorts]

I would suggest that you should endeavor to keep the habitat in which the Meadow Rue grows in as near to its present shape as possible.
This will probably mean some coppicing of the Willow. This should be done in stages to try and maintain the present level of shade.
A good rule is to coppice a quarter of the trees/bushes one year then another quarter two-three years later and so on. The interval between each stage of coppicing will be dictated by the present height and age of the Willows, the older/taller they are, the longer the interval between each coppice.
Be aware that coppicing will increase the number of stems to these trees and thinning may then be necessary.
Dorts.