Wildflower Questions & Answers

Wildflowers can make a colourful display for many months, and can provide an appealing alternative to a lawn. The two main types of wildflower are:

Annuals: Annuals will flower the first year and give a bright show of colour during the summer months
Perennials: Perennials flower year after year, but may take longer to establish, perennials also grow better on poorer soils
Using a mixture that contains grass seed will help the area that's been sown look a bit healthier during the winter months when the perennials and annuals are not in flower. However, seed mixes containing grass will require a bit more maintenance, especially during the early years.

Wildflowers will grow best in an open site where they will get plenty of sun.

Seed rates for sowing wildflower seed differ depending on what the mixture contains. If the mix is made up of purely wildflower seed, sow at 2g / square metre. If the mixture contains grasses sow at 5g / square metre;. Wildflower seed can be spread by hand. A tip for sowing is to mix the seed with sand or soil, this makes it easier to handle and will ensure an even spread.

Directly after sowing, gently rake the soil and tread in the seed either by foot or using a roller. The seed will also need a light water if it gets no rainfall during the days after sowing.

Wildflower seed can be sown in either autumn or spring. The best time would be August to mid-October, or mid-February to May. Generally, the best time to sow seed would be autumn as there is less competition with weeds.

After sowing, the seed should germinate within a few weeks. As wildflower mixes contain many different seeds, they will all establish at different times. Wildflower seeds will establish best in light, warm conditions. If the seed is made up of purely perennials, do not have expectations of seeing much flower until the following summer. However if the mixture contains annuals, you should see colour during the first year.

1. Firstly, dig the soil over to bring new soil up to the surface.

2. Then using a garden fork, break up any solid clumps until you have a fine soil consistency, this will allow the seeds to settle in the soil.

3. Finally, rake over to make the seed bed level.

Unlike lawn seed, it's not a good idea to apply a fertiliser as this will encourage any grasses to grow vigorously and will cause competition with the flowers.

Allow a month or two for the soil to settle before sowing.

Mowing is not just about the look of the meadow, it keeps the area healthier over time. It is best to cut your wildflowers 2-4 times a year. Cut the flowers down to 5cm (2 inches) after summer and during spring, and 2 more times throughout the year if you feel necessary. Using a strimmer can make an effective cut if the area is small enough. Then an ordinary lawn mower can be used to cut the flowers down to 5cm.

After cutting, leave the clippings on the ground for a few days, to drop any seed. It is then important to remove all debris, as you do not want the nutrients from the plants going back into the soil, as this will increase soil fertility. You can gather the debris using a rake.

Re-seeding: Perennials will re-seed themselves year after year, however if you find your wildflower meadow looks a bit bare, you can add in any species to make it look a bit more full and colourful. Re-seed wildflowers during spring; mid-February to May, or at the end of summer from August to September.

Weed Control: Spraying the ground before sowing with a weed killer could help prevent dormant weeds from germinating after you've planted your wildflowers. If weeds start to sprout while the wildflowers are growing, picking them out by hand will get rid of them without killing your flowers. You can also use a ready to use weed killing spray by spot treating the area you want to kill.

Water: For the first 3 to 4 weeks the newly planted seeds will need consistent moisture. If there is not enough natural rainfall, use a sprinkler or hose to apply adequate water to the area. After the plants are established they will only need watering when showing signs of stress or during very hot dry summer months.

When wildflowers are established they require very little maintenance. As long as you keep on top of the weed control and watering, and make sure you are giving sufficient cuts throughout the year your wildflowers will flourish.