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early spring violets The Wildflower garden in February Typically bitterly cold and wet with the strong possibility of snow and ice,...

Q: What is the best soil for wildflowers? A: By far the most important consideration when choosing a site for a wildflower meadow is soil...

Q: I understand it is advantageous to sow a Cornfield mixture at the same time as a perennial grass and wildflower mixture. How should this be done and what are the benefits? A: This technique is known as ‘nursing’. Perennial wildflowers are generally slow to germinate and establish. By contrast cornfield annuals germinate and grow quickly. This can help to reduce the extent of weed invasion following sowing and leads to a good display of colour in the first season. It also

snowdrops in the green Snowdrops in the green are supplied in early spring immediately after they have flowered. At this time  they can...

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

The Wildflower Garden in January Although traditional gardeners often dread mid winter, a wildflower garden can be a place of fascination at this time of year. By early month it should already be possible to hear great tits singing. Their song, a repetitive and metallic “tea cher” “tea cher” is one of the first signs that spring is approaching. As the days slowly lengthen, Mistle thrushes can also be heard singing high in the treetops. They are one of our first birds to breed

We are pleased to announce that we have added the following species to our range of wildflower seed packets for 2016 :- Chicory, Charlock, Common Field Speedwell, Common Fumitory, Dandelion, Feverfew, Tree Mallow,  Wild Parsnip, and Wood Forget-me-not. With now well over 150 Native British wildflower seeds available to order , we  offer  one of the most extensive ranges of  wildflower seed packets in the u.k.  Within our range you will find wildflower seed for virtually  ever

Meadow seeds when to sow Wildflower meadow seeds can be sown at any time of the year but usually spring or autumn are best. In winter the risk of extreme cold, wet weather  is high which can reduce the chance of a meadow seed mix germinating successfully. Some meadow seeds such as primula species and Yellow Rattle will not germinate until they have undergone a period of winter chilling. For this reason  it is sometimes stated that wild meadow seed mixes benefit  from an autum

Holly berries The Wildflower garden in December is a quiet place, with many plants and trees now fully dormant and creatures such as frogs and hedgehogs in hibernation. However a close inspection of the soil may already reveal the first signs of spring with Bluebells and Snowdrops putting out their first shoots by mid-month. Other more conspicuous plants this month include Holly and Mistletoe and both have berries that will be fully ripened in time for Christmas. Slightly les

Robin Attracting birds to your garden  by growing the right wildflowers can be a natural  alternative or supplement to buying Wild bird food.  Grown correctly, wildflowers can offer a permanent  food source for garden birds   through the important winter months and rest of the year.  Seed-eating birds Many garden birds rely on seeds as their main food source. They can usually be identified by their thicker bills for example House sparrows and Fiches. In nature, such birds dep

Guelder Rose Wildflower garden ideas November is the month when everything falls silent in the wildflower garden. The early part of the month is dominated by the wide array of autumn colours that appear in our woodlands and hedgerows. The exact timing and degree of colouration is dependent on weather conditions, with frost, rainfall and autumn gales all playing a part. Good native species to include in the garden for autumn colour include Rowan (orange/brown), Field maple (ye

Buying Wildflower seeds for large areas communal wildflife area sown with our wetland wildflower mix If you are wondering where to buy wildflower seeds in bulk, you have reached the right place. Here at wildflowers uk we sell all of our wildflower seeds and wildflower seed mixes by weight, which enables us to offer greater discounts for bulk wildflower seeds and bulk wildflower seed mixes. Uses for Bulk Wild flower seed Applications for large quantities of wild flower seed ar

<p>The Royal Horticultural Society has compiled lists of bee friendly plants and bee friendly wild flowers in an effort to halt the decline of bees and other pollinating insects. Their decline is believed to be partly linked</p>

Wild Service Tree against autumn sky With summer now officially at an end, October is the month of misty mornings and colder nights when plant growth slows down. Many of our native species enter a period of dormancy by shedding their foliage and survive the winter by holding their resting buds under the soil in preparation for the following spring. The numbers of Wildflowers still in bloom in October are few and far between with Autumn Crocus, Common Toadflax, Herb Robert and

SnowdropsGalanthus nivalis The best time to plant snowdrops is in the autumn or spring. In October or November, Snowdrops can be successfully planted as bulbs, and if the weather prevents planting, then bulbs should be stored in a  cool shady place until things improve. Stored carefully in this way,  most snowdrop bulbs should keep for at least a week or more. It is important however that bulbs are not allowed to dry out. Snowdrops in February Snowdrops can also be establishe

We are currently taking orders for  Spring Wildflower Bulbs and can offer the following species for dispatch between mid and late October: Bluebell, Snowdrop, Wild Daffodil, Wood Anemone, Winter Aconite, Wild Tulip, Star of Bethlehem, Snakeshead Fritillary, Wild Garlic and Summer Snowflake. If you would like to order bulbs this autumn, please ensure your order reaches us within the next few weeks  if possible. Certain bulbs are often very difficult to obtain late in the seaso

During September the pace of life in the wildflower garden begins to slow down. With days shortening, many birds frantically feast on the last few insects in an attempt to put on as much weight as possible before the long journeys that they will soon face. On warm days, look out for Swallows and House martins gathering on south facing rooftops in an attempt to absorb some of the heat. Swallows are the first to leave but House martins always seem more reluctant, with most hang

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

Wild Daffodil bulbs can be introduced into their permanent planting positions in autumn. If the weather prevents planting, then bulbs should be stored in a very dry, cool shady place and well spaced out until things improve. Stored carefully in this way, Wild Daffodil bulbs should keep for a long period but if stored in a damp atmosphere the bulbs will rapidly turn soft. A hole approximately 3 times the length of the bulb is required when planting. If the soil is especially h

To grow a  mixture of cornfield annual wildflowers you will need to create an area of bare soil. Unlike areas sown with perennial wildflower mixes, the soil does not need to be particularly poor, in fact cornfield annual seed mixes will often give a better display where there is a reasonable degree of fertility in the soil.  Annual flower seed mixes are generally very quick and easy to grow and require minimal maintenance however it is important to realise that the site will