How to sow wildflower seeds | Grass Seed Mat | Lawn Grass | Wildflowers

How to plant a wildflowers meadow in your garden

Learn how to plant a wildflower meadow with our easy guide. From what flowers to choose and when to sow the seeds, we’ve got all the advice you need to get started

The above photo depicts the variety of species you should expect to see in your wildflower display. Please note that certain species within this mix and all our wildflower mixes may become more abundant than others, subject to the conditions that they are sown in. Taking this into consideration, your wildflower meadow will evolve and adapt year on year, changing in appearance as certain species may become more dominant than others.

Usage guide | Try this alternative to lawns and borders

1. The first priority when planning how to plant a wildflower meadow is to prepare the soil for planting. If you are converting an existing garden border into a meadow, remove about 10-15cm of the top layer of earth. This gets rid of the most nutritious soil.

2. Dig the area over thoroughly, removing any existing weeds, plants, roots or flora from the area where you plan to sow your wildflower seed. Work it until the soil resembles fine bread crumbs. Failure to do this will produce poor results.

3. Allow the area cultivate for several weeks! So lay some plastic sheeting down for a couple of weeks to kill the weeds which will continue to sprout, remove any weeds that may pop in the area during this time. Watch out particularly for thistles and dock, which can quickly take over.

4. Do not be tempted to add top soil, compost or fertiliser to the area – wildflowers prefer low nutrient conditions.

5. When the area is clear, it is ready to plant with wildflower seeds. Roll out the fabric ready-made mix and cover it with 1 cm of soil so that it is amongst the soil is recommended, as you will get a good balance of grasses and flowers which complement one another.

6. Water the just-sown wildflower seed well.

7. If sowing in drought conditions, water as required to keep the area moist in the first 6 weeks after sowing.

When is the best time to plant a wildflower meadow?

The best time to create a wildflower meadow from scratch is in early autumn. The plants will grow best on poor soil.

If, however, you have particularly heavy soil that gets easily waterlogged , it might be better to wait until early spring to sow your seeds. This is to prevent the seeds from rotting in the soil during really wet weather in winter.

When to cut a wildflower meadow and what to do?

If you’ve added an area of long grass and native blooms to your yard or even chosen it in place of a manicured lawn, you’ll likely be wondering when to cut a wildflower meadow. With wonderful colors from the native blooms along with the appealing texture and soft movement of long grasses, a wildflower meadow, once established, is a low maintenance choice. But although it needs far less mowing than a traditional lawn, it is important to note that you can’t give up the job completely. A wildflower meadow does need to be cut to create the wonderful natural picture you want in your yard so whether one of your lawn ideas is to opt for this colorful beauty, or you already have an attractive expanse of blooms and grass, we have the inside track on when to cut a wildflower meadow.

When to cut a wildflower meadow?

If you’re already in the know about how to plant a wildflower meadow, you’ll be aware that the rules about when to cut a wildflower meadow are different when it is first planted from those that apply after its first year when it is established.

When is the best time to cut a wildflower meadow?

First of all, when to cut a wildflower meadow when it is first planted? You will need to wait for it to grow, but after a couple of months you should mow the meadow to around 2 inches (5cm) in height. Repeat at a two monthly interval through its first summer, cutting to the same height.

How often should you mow a wildflower meadow?

After the first year and when the wildflower meadow is established you can cut it less frequently. The number of cuts will depend on how lushly it grows. You might cut just once a year, but you may find you need to or want to cut on one, two or even more additional occasions.

What time of the year is best to mow a wildflower meadow?

The timing of when to cut a wildflower meadow is fairly straightforward. There are three windows for cutting – spring, summer and fall – and, as we mentioned above, you may take advantage of just one of them or more.

Cutting it as part of your spring lawn care is a good idea if the grass in your wildflower meadow grows very lushly. Make the cut before the end of April and aim for a height of 3 inches (7.5cm).

Gardening expert who has wildflower meadows as part of his garden, Perennial wildflowers, recommends August as a good month to cut a wildflower meadow as short as possible. This is its summer cut and is one you should make.

The purpose of this cut is to expose areas of bare soil in order that flower seeds can make contact and germinate.

Cutting in August has allowed the flowers the time to set seed and, if there are any bulbs in the meadow, for this foliage to die back.

You might also want to cut your wildflower meadow in the fall. This can help the wildflowers by keeping grasses in check.

What´s the best way to cut a wildflower meadow?

There are a few options for cutting a wildflower meadow. You could use the best strimmer or hire a powerful cutter. The alternative is to take the traditional route and use a scythe, which does the job as well as anything.

Our note of caution? If you decide to use a scythe, make sure both your feet and your legs are well protected, and proceed with utmost care.

If your meadow doesn’t cover a large area, a further alternative is simply to use hand shears. This isn’t a practical proposition for a meadow of any size, of course, but will work just fine for a small version.

Make sure you remove all the cut grass after mowing. If you don’t, it will feed the soil as it decomposes. Why is this a problem? It encourages lush regrowth but the wild flowers and bulbs will accordingly lose out.

Prefer to keep your wildflower meadow short up until winter? This isn’t a problem so long as you keep collecting the grass cuttings as you do so.

Aftercare:

I’ve sown my wildflower seed in April / May (spring)

In August / September of the first year you have sown your wildflower seed, cut your wildflower sward to 7cm after flowering – you can do this by putting your mower on a high setting. In most cases remove clippings* (Note: a late spring sowing will result in late flowering). Do not be tempted fertilise or add top soil to this area – wildflowers prefer poor soil conditions, and this is how they should stay.

Continue this same process, year after year. *If you have annual wildflowers in your mix and you do not wish them to return the following year, remove the clippings. If you want your wildflowers to return the following year – let them go to seed head, and manually assist their self-seeding by firming the seed heads into the soil. By doing this, your annuals will return the following year.

I’ve sown my wildflower seed in September / October (autumn)

In March / April of the first year of sowing your wildflower seed, make sure there is sufficient material to mow – your wildflowers / grasses should be at a height of 10cm. If your wildflowers are at this height, mow to 7cm no later than mid-April, as this will delay their blooming process.

In August / September, after they have bloomed, cut your wildflower meadow again to 7cm, remove all clippings unless you want your annuals to return. If you want your wildflowers to return the following year – let them go to seed head, and manually assist their self-seeding by firming the seed heads into the soil. By doing this, your annuals will return the following year.

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