Creating
A Wild Flower Meadow
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Traditionally, wild flower meadows were hay meadows which were cut
during the summer for hay and used for grazing over the winter. They
consisted of wild rather than cultivated grasses with a large variety of
other native flowering plants. Their value lay in the diversity of
their plant life which provided food and shelter for many different
invertebrate species which in turn meant that there was an abundance of
food for birds and mammals. The plant species composition varied
from area to area depending on geological, soil and climatic
conditions.
The wild grasses provide the basic
architecture for the meadow. Over the years, a thick mat of old, dead,
fibrous foliage builds up and provides shelter in the winter for a great
variety of invertebrates. Grasses are also the larval food plant of
many different meadow butterflies. Some butterflies require a
mixture of wild grasses growing in the same area as caterpillars favour
different species at different stages of their development.
We can create our own version of a
wild flower meadow. There are four main types of wild flower meadow
depending on the mix of seeds sown:
-
wild flower and grass meadow -
similar to the traditional hay meadow with a mixture of wild grasses
and wild flowers
-
wild flower only meadow - for a
higher concentration of wild flowers leaving grasses to colonise
naturally over time
-
meadow grasses only
-
cornfield annual meadow - annual
wild flowers only which will flower profusely in their first year
The first two types of meadow can be
created by either clearing the site completely before sowing or converting
an existing lawn. The meadow grasses only and cornfield annual
meadow will need to be sown onto a clear site.
Preparing the
Site:
Wild flower meadows prefer thin soils of low fertility. If your soil
is richly fertile, then it is probably best to choose a Cornfield
Annual Mix rather than a Meadow
Mix.
Wild flowers will not be able to compete well in areas of lush weed
growth, so it is important to start out with a completely weed-free
site. This can be achieved by either digging out any existing plants, mulching larger areas or using other eco-friendly weedkillers. It may be
necessary to repeat these activities over a period to ensure the area is
clear. Don't cultivate the ground or turn the soil once you have
cleared the surface weeds as this will bring seeds held in the soil bank
to the surface where they will germinate. The next step is to rake over the area to a fine tilth
ready for the seeds.
If you decide to convert an existing lawn, best results are
generally
achieved by planting plugs rather than seeding, but if you do decide to
convert an existing lawn using seed, it is important that your lawn does not contain rye grass as this will
compete too vigorously with your wild flowers. Cut the existing
grass down to 5cm, scarify the thatch and remove any clippings.
Small areas can be completely stripped of grass to improve
establishment. For best results, aim to expose around 50% bare
soil.
Choosing Seed Mixes:
Choosing the correct meadow
seed mix is important for the success of your project. We supply a
number of different meadow mixtures depending on whether you want wild
flowers only, grasses only or a mixture of the two. There are also
mixes for specific soil types and for different locations. There are
more details of each of the mixes on the Wild
Flower Seed Collections pages (wild flowers only) and the Meadow
Mixtures pages (wild grasses and wild flower mixtures), but in
summary:
Meadow Mixtures (Wild Flowers
& Grasses):
Butterfly
& Bee Meadow Mixture - a meadow mix with 6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 21 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Suitable across a variety of soil types.
Long
Flowering Season Meadow Mixture - a meadow mix with 6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 24 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Suitable across a variety of soil types.
Spring
Flowering Meadow Mixture - a meadow mix with 6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 15 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Suitable across a variety of soil types.
Traditional
Old English Meadow Mixture 2 - a meadow mix with 4 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 15 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Suitable across a variety of soil types.
Flowering
Lawn Wild Flowers & Grass Mix - a mix with 6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 12 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Suitable across a variety of soil types.
Mixture
for Chalky Soils - a meadow mix which contains species found on
lime-rich soils. It has 7 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 21
species of wild flower (20% by weight).
Mixture
for Clay Soils - a meadow mix which contains species adapted to
growing on soils with a high clay content. It has 8 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 16 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Mixture
for Loamy Soils - a meadow mix which contains species found on
loamy soils. It has 6 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 17 species of wild flower (20% by weight).
Mixture
for Sandy Soils - a meadow mix which contains species found on
sandy soils. It has 6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 17 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Mixture
for Hedgerows - a meadow mix which contains species which will
tolerate semi-shade. It has 7 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and
16
species of wild flower (20% by weight).
Mixture
for Woodlands - a meadow mix which contains species able to
tolerate shade where light levels fall down to 25% of that in the open. It has
6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 15 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Mixture
for a Green Roof - a mix of wild flowers & wild grasses suitable for
growing in a shallow depth of growing medium. It has
6 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 22 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Mixture for Wetlands
- a meadow mix which contains species able to tolerate a fluctuating water
table and periods of being waterlogged. It has 7 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 17 species of wild flowers (80% by weight).
Most plants need to be well established to withstand winter flooding, so
seeding needs to take place very early in autumn or better still, in
spring.
Mixture for Pond
Edges - a meadow mix which contains species suitable for the marginal
boggy zone found at the edges of ponds, ditches and streams. It has 7
species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 17 species of wild flowers
(20% by weight).
Low
Maintenance Mixture - a meadow mix that will require little or no
maintenance once established. It has 8 species of wild
grasses (80% by weight) and 16 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).
Wild Flower Only Seed
Collections:
Cornfield
Annual Mixture - this mixture of annual wild flowers will give a
colourful display in one growing season from an autumn or spring sowing.
It will grow on most soil types and consists of 5 species of wild flowers.
It can also be sown with meadow mixtures to give a good show of colour in
the first year (cornfield 'nurse').
Special
Cornfield Annual Mixture - this mixture of annual wild flowers has the
same uses as the Cornfield Annual Mixture above, but it contains a wider
range of wild flower species some of which are now rare or declining in
the wild in Britain. It will give a colourful
display in one growing season from an autumn or spring sowing. It will
grow on most soil types. It can also be sown with meadow mixtures give a
good show of colour in the first year (cornfield 'nurse').
Honey
& Bumble Bee Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture contains 22 different species of wild
flower seeds that are attractive to bees and other nectar-seeking insects.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Butterfly
Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture contains 21 different species of wild
flowers that act as food plants to butterflies and caterpillars.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Bird
Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture contains 10 different species of wild
flower seeds that will attract birds to your garden.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Long
Flowering Season Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture of 24 different species of wild flowers will give a
colourful display over a long period from an autumn or spring sowing.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Spring
Flowering Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture of 15 different species of wild flowers will give a
colourful display from an autumn or spring sowing.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Traditional
Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture of 15 different species of wild flowers will give a
colourful display from an autumn or spring sowing.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Flowering
Lawn Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture of 13 different species of wild flowers
suitable for growing in a lawn with a restricted mowing regime.
It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.
Country
Cottage Wild Flower Mixture - this mixture of 17 different species of wild flowers
suitable for sowing in a garden border.
Wild
Flower Mixture
for Chalky Soils - this mixture of 21 different species of native wild flowers
is suitable for planting on calcareous (lime-rich) soils.
Wild
Flower Mixture
for Clay Soils - this mixture contains 16 different species of
wild flowers adapted to
growing on soils with a high clay content.
Wild
Flower Mixture
for Sandy Soils - this mixture of 23 different species of native wild flowers
is suitable for planting on sandy soils.
Wild
Flower Mixture
for Loamy Soils - this mixture of 17 different species of native wild flowers
is suitable for planting on loamy soils.
Wild
Flower Mixture
for a Green Roof - this mixture of 22 different species of wild flowers
is suitable for growing in a shallow depth of growing medium.
Wild
Flower Mixture for Wetlands
- this mixture contains 17 different species of wild flower able to tolerate a fluctuating water
table and periods of being waterlogged.
Most plants need to be well established to withstand winter flooding, so
seeding needs to take place very early in autumn or better still, in
spring.
Wild
Flower Mixture for Pond
Edges - This mixture contains 17 species of wild flowers suitable for the marginal
boggy zone found at the edges of ponds, ditches and streams.
Wild
Flower Mixture for
Hedgerows
- this mixture contains 16 different species of wild flower able
to tolerate semi-shade and is suitable for sowing beneath newly planted or
established hedges and on woodland edges, rides and glades.
Wild
Flower Mixture for
Woodlands - this mixture contains 17 species of wild flowers able
to tolerate shade and is suitable for sowing in woodland areas.
The wild flowers are adapted to growing amongst established trees where
shading has reduced light levels down to 25% of that in the open.
Or you could make up your own mix and
choose species which are traditionally from your locality - refer to the Postcode
Plants Database for a list of native plants for your specific
postcode. Look at our latest Catalogue
of Wild Flower Seeds. If you have a large project and you require larger quantities, please
email for a price contact@wildgardenseeds.co.uk.
Sowing Seeds &
Planting Plugs:
Sow the seeds as evenly as possible using the quantities in the
section below as a guideline. Roll or tread in the seeds to ensure good
contact between the soil and the seeds. Ensure that the seeds don't
dry out by watering as necessary.
The seed is generally best sown in the autumn
(September to
October) as some varieties require a period of cold to break dormancy
and germinate in the spring. However, the seeds can also be sown
in the spring (February to May). On heavy clay soils it is be best
to sow in spring as water-logging may cause some seed/seedlings to rot
during the winter.
If converting an existing lawn,
success is improved by reducing immediate competition while the wild
flowers establish themselves by raking Yellow Rattle seed
(Rhinanthus
minor) into the grass. This is semi-parasitic on the roots of
plants, especially grasses, and once established will reduce the vigour
of the original grass by up to 50%. All ancient meadows have this
plant. Yellow Rattle needs a period of cold to germinate successfully, so is best
sown between August and December. Yellow Rattle is an annual and so
once established, it is best to cut the meadow after the rattle has had a
chance to seed ie after the end of July.
Sowing Rates for
Seeds:
Sow the seeds as evenly as possible using the following
quantities as a guideline:
meadow mixes - 4g per
square metre (may use less if sowing into existing grass, but add
Yellow Rattle at 1g per square metre)
wild flower only mixes
- from 1.5g per square metre depending on the density of flowering
required (if sown into existing grass add Yellow Rattle at
1g per square metre as well (most of my wild flower mixes include
yellow rattle)
meadow grass only mixes
- 5g per square metre. These mixes aren't listed on the website, so
please email or telephone if you would like more information.
cornfield annual mix
and special
cornfield annual mix -
between 2g and 5g per square metre depending on the density of flowering
required (1g if sown with a meadow mix)
First Year
Maintenance:
For most meadows (wild flower and wild grass mixes), you won't see a display of flowers in the first year unless you
have added a companion cornfield annual mix (cornfield 'nurse') to your
meadow mix. Most of the perennial varieties will spend the first
year bulking up their leaf growth and root structure. A number of authorities (including the RHS) advise
cutting each time the meadow reaches 10-15cm in height to get rid of
annual weeds before they have a chance to set seed. However, if
any annual wild flower varieties have been sown with your meadow mix, it
will be best to remove any unwanted weeds by hand and hold back on the
first cut until July/August. It is important to
remove all clippings following cutting to prevent them enhancing soil
fertility and blocking the light from the growing seedlings.
If you have an area of wild
flowers only (ie without the wild grasses), it really is up to you
how you tidy the area. Any very tall plants which collapse onto
the ground and die back there will inhibit the germination of seeds and
the growth of small plants underneath them, so it may be an idea to cut
them back and remove the foliage. If you have too many of any
particular plants which you don’t want to increase in number, you can
cut them back (or ‘weed’ them out completely) before they have set
seed. It may be best not to tidy up too thoroughly in the autumn
as it will be more beneficial to insects and other wildlife over winter.
If you have planted a meadow of
just cornfield annuals, it may take time for the wild flower seed bank
to build up. This can be achieved either by allowing the seeds to
fall naturally or by collecting the seeds and sowing them in
autumn/spring. If you collect the seed, dry it on absorbent paper
and store in a cool dry place until you are ready to sow it. You
can also speed up the establishment of the seed bank by purchasing and
sowing additional seeds in the first couple of years.
Second Year Plus
Maintenance:
Your wild flower meadow should provide a good display of
flowers from the second year onwards. If any unwanted weeds appear,
remove them by hand. If the varieties of seed you have planted are
for a spring meadow, cut late June/early July and then again in
September/October. If the seed varieties you have planted are for a summer
meadow (or mixed seasons), cut in September/October. Always
remove all clippings after cutting.
For wild flower only areas,
see paragraph under First Year Maintenance as the same applies. If
you are allowing grasses to colonise the area gradually/naturally, you may
like to introduce a cutting regime in early autumn in future years once
the grass has established.
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