An authentic native wildflower meadow is truly representative of what the British countryside once was
Wildflower Meadow Establishment
Planning
Planning is key and getting the right mixture will help you on your way to achieving a great wildflower meadow that is not only beautiful to look at, but a hive of activity for wildlife. There are a wide range of mixtures available that there is almost too much choice, especially for a beginner!
Soil Type and Meadow Position
The best place to start is to access whether you have a particular type of soil. Some wildflowers will thrive just about anywhere but some are best suited to certain soil types such as clay, chalk or sandy soil.
It is also worth taking account where the meadow will be. Is it an exposed site by the sea, in which case, this is best suited to coastal type mixture where the flowers are best suited for wind and salt. Is it shaded for the majority of the time, for example on a woodland edge, as some species thrive in the shade and so sun loving flowers may not do so well. The good news is that most wildflowers thrive in poor, low nutrient soil so there is no need to improve it with topsoil or fertiliser. On poorer soils, grasses and weeds lying in the seed bed can’t take hold as much as they would in nutrient rich top soil, which allows the wildflower seeds to germinate to the best of their ability.
100% Wildflowers or Meadow Mix?
The next thing to decide is whether you go for a 100% wildflower mixture or go for a wildflower and grass mixture (meadow mix).
100% Wildflower mixtures can either be grown just as wildflowers or be added to existing grassland. Adding flowers to existing grassland can often be unsuccessful as grasses are more competitive, especially when already established, so can smother the new flower seedlings. If 100% flower mixture is to be added to existing grassland, it is best done when the meadow has been cut short, to give the flower seedlings enough light to grow and a better chance of competing.
Wildflower meadow mixtures are used when a meadow is to be started from scratch. These mixtures come in variety of ratios of grass to flowers but 80% grasses to 20% wildflowers in the most commonly used. Grasses in wildflower meadow mixtures are slower growing, finer grasses which are much less competitive than tougher species, such as ryegrasses, and are specifically chosen to be be sown alongside wildflowers.
It is worth noting that many species do not flower in the first year so if you want colour in the first year, choose a mixture with annuals in it.
Sowing Rates
Whichever mixture is chosen, it is important to work out the correct amount of seed needed for the area, as mixtures can be expensive, especially more specialist ones or 100% wildflower ones. Sowing rates are small and are usually 1.5-2g per square metre for 100% wildflower mixtures and approx 4g per square metre for meadow mixtures.
Now all of the decisions have been made, the ground preparation can get under way.
Ground Preparation
Clear existing vegetation (any grass and weeds) by digging, spraying or ploughing. It is especially important to remove weeds, such as thistles, nettles and dock, as these will persist and take over.
Once clear, dig over the area (or use a garden rotavator) to loosen any large lumps of soil and remove large stones. Then rake over to produce a fine seed bed. This enables the wildflowers to set down roots easily. For larger areas, harrowing will provide the same results.
Digging or harrowing can sometimes bring dormant grass and weed seeds to the surface and allow them to germinate. It is therefore advisable to leave the prepared soil bed for 2-4 weeks to allow these to germinate and then they can be dug up or sprayed off. This gives your new meadow the best possible start. Dealing with unwanted grasses and weeds is much better to do now, than when they are competing with the new seedlings.
When to Sow
Wildflowers can be sown in either spring (March to May) or late summer/early autumn (August to October). Autumn sowing is generally favoured as there tends to be less weed competition at this time of year, however, late autumn is not recommended on heavy soil, as the seeds may rot.
Some species, such as Yellow Rattle, need a period of vernalisation, which means they need the winters cold to encourage them to germinate the following year.
Whichever time you choose to sow, the soil needs to be warm and moist to give the seeds the best possible chance.
Sowing
Pick a calm day for sowing so the seeds don’t blow and land unevenly on the soil. When conditions are ideal, check the correct sowing rate. Wildflower only mixes have a much lower sowing rate to those that are mixed with grass.
Scatter the seeds evenly over the seed bed by hand. If the area is large, this can be done with a seed spreader. If the mix is 100% wildflower seed and not mixed with grass, it can be difficult to sow at such a low seed rate. A solution to this, is to mix the seed evenly with coarse sand to bulk it out, then scatter in the same method as above.
Once the seed is sown, tread the area (or use a roller for larger areas) to make sure the seed has good contact with the soil. If possible, lightly water the area if rain is not forecast.
As wildflowers like low fertility soil, it is important to not add compost, topsoil or fertiliser as this will improve the soil.
Wildflower Meadow Maintenance
Ongoing maintenance is the key to success of the wildflower meadow for years to come.
To encourage a diverse mix of flowers and grasses, mowing your meadow is important. Wildflower meadows will need at least one yearly cut (more in the first year) and undesirable weeds such as ragwort, thistle and dock removed to prevent them establishing and taking over the meadow.
Cuttings should be removed to allow developing seedlings to gain enough light. These can be composted. In order to take advantage of seed drop, cuttings can remain in place for a few days later on in the season and then be removed. Leaving cuttings longer than this will allow them to rot and improve the soil, which is not ideal.
New meadows in their first year
To encourage good root growth and flower establishment, mow to approximately 5cm after 6-8 weeks. This can then be continued every 2 months during the first summer. If the meadow contains annuals, it is best to delay the first cut until these have flowered so they can be enjoyed in full bloom.
Established Meadows
Established meadows can be maintained with 1-3 yearly cuts.
Spring Cut
This cut takes place preferably before the end of April. It is an ideal cut where there is vigorous grass growth from spring and involves mowing to approximately 7.5cm (3”).
Main/Summer Cut
This takes place between the end of June and end of August and is mown to approximately 5cm.
Autumn Cut
This cut takes place between the end of August and the end of November. This cut is ideal for more fertile sites and allows the flowers to compete with the grasses. It also allows plenty of light to reach the wildflowers by reducing the competition and height from the grasses.
Wildflower meadows take years to establish and evolve over time which gives you an ever changing picture for years to come.