
How to create a wild flower meadow
The following notes should cover the main points with regard to the establishment and maintenance of the seed to create a wild flower meadow. These notes will be by no means a definitive answer to all problems and if you require any further information do not hesitate to contact us.
It will cover Wild Flower meadows, both with grass and without, and the Cornfield annuals. If you follow these points then you should be able to enjoy the your wild flower meadow over the next few years.
Establishment
With Wild Flower Meadow mixtures it is important to remember that they thrive best when on ‘poor ‘ soil. This is because on ground with reasonable fertility other grasses and weeds may grow too quickly and smother the mixture. In some case where people have been concerned about high fertility they have removed some of the topsoil first. This is unlikely to be necessary in most cases.
It is very important that the ground is prepared thoroughly. Once established both the grasses and wild flowers will be easy to maintain but they can take some time to get started .In particular you need to get rid of any invasive weeds like couch grass, docks, nettles and elder. It is in some cases worth looking at the ground nearby where you are sowing the seed. For example, if you plant next to a field full of docks they are going to reseed in your meadow.
You can either dig the site over with a fork by hand, removing all the weeds. Or for a larger area spray it with a herbicide such as glyphosate. Then use a rotavator to turn the soil over (if you have the time it can pay to go though this process twice.) Kill off what is there and wait to see what starts to establish, then kill that off before planting the seed.
Before sowing or planting, the soil should be broken up and be relatively free-draining. It can then be raked over to a firm and fine tilth, as you would for a lawn. Since you are looking to sow only a small amount of seed per square metre it may help to mix it in with some sand or earth first to increase the volume and help spread it more evenly. You can broadcast the seed by hand or if you are establishing a larger area a hand operated lawn fertilizer spreader could do the job. After sowing the seed should be raked in and then trodden in.
The best times for sowing are March through to May or in the autumn. It is worth noting that the grasses and wild Flowers will take some time to get established. You will start to see the real benefit in the second year rather than the first year of establishment.
Maintenance
For large areas of Wild Flower Meadows people often keep paths regularly mown through the area so they can get the full benefit of the meadow.
In general once established the Wild Flower meadows can turn what is often a neglected part of the garden into an attractive area that needs little maintenance. All our Wild Flower range of mixtures are what is known as summer meadows i.e. flowering throughout the summer.
It is important that the grass is cut a number of times a year. If it were left completely then eventually the ground would revert to scrubland.
Whilst guidelines are difficult as each year can be very different, we would recommend that once established you cut the meadow regularly in the early months of the year. After this leave it and wait until all the summer flowers are over (normally in the early autumn.) Some species will flower twice and you may need to give it a second cut in the late autumn.
It should never be cut too short in the first year (the blades should be set at about 4” if possible.) This level will prevent the broad–leaved plants from being destroyed whilst allowing light and air to them. You will need to remove the grass cuttings but it is worth leaving them for a few days to wilt, so making it less weight to move. If left on the ground and not removed at all they may well kill some of the broad–leaved plants.
-
Butterfly Wildflower Border SKU: BB1
- 100% Wildflower Seed mixture. Attracts butterflies. 8 species, long flowering season. Seed Rate 2.0 grams per sq mtr.
Starting at €4.40
In stock -
Bee Border SKU: BB2
- 100% Wildflower Seed mixture. Attracts bees. 7 species, long flowering season. Seed Rate 2.0 grams per sq mtr
Starting at €4.40
In stock -
Bird Border SKU: BB3
• 100% Wildflower Seed mixture • Attracts birds • 6 species, long flowering season • Seed Rate 2.0 grams per sq mtr.Starting at €4.40
In stock -
Cottage Garden SKU: BB4
- 100% Wildflower Seed mixture. Creates a Cottage Garden. 8 species, long flowering season. Seed Rate 2.0 grams per sq mtr.
Starting at €4.20
In stock -
Scented Border SKU: BB5
- 100% Wildflower Seed mixture. Creates a Scented Border. 7 species, long flowering season. Seed Rate 2.0 grams per sq mtr.
Starting at €4.20
In stock -
Shady Area Border SKU: BB6
- 100% Wildflower Seed mixture. Creates a Shady Border. 6 species, long flowering season. Seed Rate 2.0 grams per sq mtr.
Starting at €4.20
In stock -
Instant Sunshine Mini Wildflower Meadow SKU: MAS-SUN
- A mix of 25 annuals, 23 Perennials, 7 grass species.
- Mass of Colour. Perennials come back year after year.
- Attractive to Bees, Butterflies and other Wildlife.
- Sow at 5 grams to the square metre
Starting at €5.90
In stock
- 1. Growing Wildflowers
- 2. Horse Paddock Seed
- 2019 Wildflower meadows
- 3. Planting Lawns
- 4. Sowing Meadow grass
- 5. Pasture Grass Seed
- 6. Clovers & Green Manures
- 7. Wildflower Bulbs
- 8. Native Hedging
- Info And Advice
- News
- Uncategorized
- Wild Flower Species
-
Wildflower meadow pictures
- » Pictures of customers wild flowers meadows from 2010
- » Wild flower meadow pictures from 2011
- » Wild flower meadow photographs 2012
- » Miscellaneous Wild flower meadows
- » 2014 Wild Flower Meadows
- » 2015 Wild Flower meadow
- » 2016 Wildflower Meadows
- » 2017 Wild flower meadow
- » 2018 Wild Flower Meadows
- » 2019 Wildflower meadows
- December 2020
- September 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- August 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- August 2018
- July 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- November 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- October 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- February 2012