Establishing wild flowers

Wildflower landscaping Wildflowers in park setting Wildflower landscaping ideas Outside of gardens and wild areas there is an increasing use of wildflowers to landscape urban and suburban areas. Wildflowers provide a cost effective alternative to bedding plants and can be used to landscape parks, road verges, roundabouts, golf courses and green roofs. Mixtures often contain a blend of native and non-native species such as Californian Poppy. The introduction of any non-natives

Wildflower Lawn Seed Cowslips By reducing the amount of cutting in spring and summer, garden lawns can easily be converted into a...

In this article we describe how to plant a wildflower meadow using 3 different methods. Wildflowers in summer When and how to plant a Wildflower meadow with a grass and wildflower mix The most common method is to sow a mixture of wildflower seeds and meadow grass. This approach is generally used whenever it is possible to fully clear any existing vegetation and then prepare a bare weed -free seed bed. It is generally regarded as the most cost effective method  for medium size

Generally speaking there are many wildflowers for shade but few that will grow well where conditions are extremely dark . This is evident in woodland glades and clearings, where there is often a much more diverse range of flora than in darker areas of the same wood, shaded by a broad tree canopy. To encourage the establishment of wildflowers in existing woodlands it may only be necessary to create open areas by thinning the tree canopy or creating clear felled areas. If ther

Q: Can Wildflowers be grown in grass ? A: Yes but the success of this technique is limited and depends on the growing conditions and the type of grassland into which the Wildflower seed is being introduced. Generally fine growing meadow grasses are required that do not grow too rapidly or tall. If you wish to establish wildflowers in  grass then consider using wildflower plug plants if at all possible. If wild flower seed is to be used then follow the guidelines below: Over s

Q:  Is it possible to establish Wildflowers on a River bank? A: Riverbanks are generally rich in vegetation and often contain a build up of nutrients. They should be sown or planted in the same way as fertile soils on arable land. An addition problem is the steepness meaning they are usually inaccessible for regular cutting. We suggest the following guidelines: -Consider using Wild flower  plug plants rather than seeds and choose the most competitive species available (we hav

Q: Is it possible to buy wildflowers for lawns ? A: Most garden lawns  contain rye grass, a hard wearing species designed to cope with the wear and tear.  Unfortunately rye grass isn’t compatible with many wildflowers, so the best approach can often be to remove any existing grass and sow a wildflower and meadow grass mixture without rye grass. If this is not possible however, there are still a few species of wildflowers that can be grown quite successfully in lawns containin

Q:  I own an orchard into which I would like to introduce wildflowers. How can this be achieved and which are the best wild flowers for orchards? A: Each year we receive enquiries from customers hoping to introduce wildflowers into orchards, but not necessarily able to remove the existing grass. The following species are all able to withstand  some competition from grasses and are well suited to full sun or semi-shade. Red Campion Field scabious Meadow cranesbill Oxeye daisy

Q: Why is such a low sowing rate of 4 grams per sq. metre recommended for wildflower meadow seed mixtures? A: A low sowing rate is used to encourage a somewhat patchy open grass sward in the short term. This helps to create receptive conditions necessary for the development of wildflower seedlings. Eventually the sward will thicken and close up.

Q: How can I establish a Wild flower meadow seed mix in an arable field grass margin ? A: On arable farmland, wildflower meadow seed is best established alongside hedges, ditches and water courses. The aim is to create a conservation headland several metres wide that will contain a mixture of Native British Wild flowers and Native Meadow grasses that will require minimal maintenance. Once established the resulting Wildflower and Grass strip will act as a buffer reducing run-o

Planning Before attempting to create a Wildflower meadow, there are a number of factors which should be given due consideration. From the outset it should be fully understood that wildflower meadows do require management and regular cutting is an important part of how to create a wildflower meadow. This will include several cuts during the first year to a height of around 3.5 to 4 inches followed by further cutting, albeit less frequently in subsequent years as the competitio