Wild Flowers
Difficulty rating
Materials
-
Wild flower seeds - buy seed of British origin, especially for native wildflowers, and always from reputable suppliers.
-
Choose a seed mix that suits your conditions.
-
An easier, although more expensive, way to create a wildflower meadow from scratch is to lay wildflower-rich turf onto prepared ground. This is increasingly available from specialist turf and wildflower suppliers, and comes on short rolls in the same way as lawn turf.
Indicative Costs
100g of wildflower seed costs a different amount depending on which you buy, but roughly £11 per 100g
Method
Wildflower Seeds:
-
Most meadow seed mixes can be sown in spring (March/April) or late summer (September), but check packets.
-
Most meadow plants need full sun and well-drained soil. However, tailored seed mixes for other locations, such a semi-shade, damp or dry soil, and coastal sites, are available from specialist suppliers.
Preparing the soil:
-
Start with bare, weed-free ground (sowing seeds directly into existing grass is rarely successful).
-
Then rake over the area to create a smooth surface, ready for sowing.
-
There is no need to use fertiliser, just make sure you’ve selected a meadow seed mix that suits your soil type.
Sowing into your prepared soil is similar to sowing a new lawn:
-
Check the seed packet for the application rate – this will vary depending on the seed mix.
-
It can be difficult to sow evenly, so try mixing the seeds with sand to make them easier to handle.
-
Divide into two equal batches and scatter half the seeds as evenly as you can over the whole area by walking up and down in parallel rows, then repeat with the second batch, walking from side to side.
-
Lightly rake to cover the seeds.
-
If no rain is forecast for a few days, water gently with a light spray, so the seeds aren’t dislodged.
-
Protect from birds by covering with horticultural fleece, weighted down at the edges. This should also improve germination by keeping the soil warm and moist.
Wildflower Turf:
-
If using wildflower turf, prepare the ground in the same way as for wildflower meadow seeds above.
-
Although you can lay wildflower turf all year round, spring is the best time. Keep it well watered throughout the first summer.
Benefits
Wildflower meadows usually flower between May and September, and attract a wide range of pollinators. You can also buy seed mixes tailored for specific wildlife, such as butterflies, bees or seed-eating birds. Wildflower meadows can be large or small – even a small patch of ground or part of a border can be transformed into an attractive and valuable pollinator-friendly mix of grasses and wildflowers.
Maintenance
Aftercare
-
If it doesn’t rain, water small areas of wildflowers regularly until the young plants are well rooted.
-
Watering larger meadow areas is not really viable or a good use of water, so it’s best to just rely on rainfall.
-
Over the first summer, regularly remove any obvious weeds that are not in the seed mix, especially in smaller-scale meadows. This helps to ensure that more delicate wildflowers aren’t outcompeted by too many vigorous species.
Mowing:
-
It’s important to mow your new perennial or mixed meadow regularly in the first year after sowing, to encourage the perennial flowers and grasses to make strong root growth.
-
Cut to a height of 5cm, about six to eight weeks after the seedlings appear, and repeat every two months throughout the first summer.
After the first year, mow in late summer after flowering and rake off the cut material.