Cultural Information
For Sowing Wild Flower and Grass Mixtures
It is important to understand that there are two main situations
where one can establish wild flowers. The first and most common is as
a meadow,that is a mix of wild flowers growing within a grass sward.
Traditionally,this would have been a field which would have had livestock
grazing the grass early in the spring and later they would have been romoved to
allow the grass and herbs to grow for harvesting as a hay crop in summer.
Once the hay had been removed, any seeds which had fallen out of the grasses
and the wild flowers would be trampled into good contact with the soil
when the livestock had been allowed back in to graze the aftermath before
the end of autumn.
The alternative is to grow wild flowers without a grass sward.
In many respects this is a better proposition and avoids the potential problem
of the wild flowers being swamped in the early years by excessive grass growth.
Sowing wild flora within borders can work exceptionally well
1) If possible, select a weed-free site of low fertility. DO NOT
APPLY FERTILISER. Broad-leaved and grass weeds together with cultivated
grasses contained in standard mixtures can be highly competitive
on fertile soils and may adversely affect seed germination, establishment
and subsequent growth. However over-competitive may be counteracted
by increased grass cutting.
2) CONTROL WEEDS BEFORE SOWING. Annual weeds may be hoed, buried
or killed with a contact herbicide. Perennial weeds such as Couch-grass,
Docks, Thistles and Nettles should be eradicated by a translocated
GLYPHOSATE herbicide ("TUMBLE WEED"/"ROUND-UP") 
3) Sow mixtures either from early March to early May or from early
August to mid-September (for autumn establishment of most species).
If they contain COWSLIP, OXLIP, PRIMROSE,BLUEBELL or VIOLETS these
will not be expected to germinate until after the winter following
sowing.
4) Cultivate the ground to produce a fine, weed-free seed bed.
Firm if necessary
5) Take care to sow evenly at the recommended rate. Thoroughly
mixing one part seed with four to five parts DRY SAND, USED COMPOST or FLOUR makes
it more easily distributed.
6) Rake the seed in lightly with a spring-tined rake and firm the
soil by treading or preferably rolling to ensure that the seed comes
into contact with moisture in the soil. Water with a fine spray
to avoid disturbing the surface of the soil.
7) Keep the area well watered and free from any unwanted plants.
8) During the first year after sowing the sward should be cut every
6-8 weeks(or as necessary) in order to prevent the grass from overgrowing
the slower growing wild flowers. IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE CUTTINGS
ARE REMOVED.
9) In the following years, cut in early spring (before growth starts)
and in October, after all wild flower seeds have been shed. REMOVE
THE CUTTINGS.
Cultural Information For Sowing 100% Wild Flower Mixtures
1) When choosing your site, bear in mind that the above mixtures
do not contain grass seed and are intended to be sown without grass
into cultivated ground to create ornamental beds of wild flowers
only. THEY CANNOT BE SUCCESSFULLY OVER-SOWN INTO EXISTING GRASS.
2) When creating wild flower areas to be grown without grass, it
is not necessary to avoid fertile soils. In general, wild flowers
respond well to fertile ground and to being "fertilised" like any
other garden flowers. However, grasses and weeds can be highly competitive
on fertile soils and may adversely affect seed germination, establishment
and subsequent growth.
3) Sow either from March to early May, or from early August to
mid-September (for autumn establishment of most species)
4) Carefully prepare a fine, weed-free seed bed. Take care to sow
the seed evenly at the recommended rate. Thoroughly mixing one part
seed with nine parts dry sand or flour makes it more easily distributed.
5) Rake the seed in lightly with a spring-tined rake and firm the
soil by treading or preferably rolling. Water with a fine spray
to avoid disturbing the soil surface. Keep the area well-watered
and free from grass and weeds.
6) As the seedlings/plantlets grow, some thinning-out will be necessary,
especially with the larger, more vigorous species. Use the area
as a source of plant material by transplanting the thinnings to
other parts of the garden. Thinning out to the required planting
distances should be achieved with as little root disturbance as
possible.
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