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Sowing Specification for all Seed Mixtures:
Remove existing vegetation: When sowing seed, it is best to start a wildflower meadow
with a clean weed free soil. alternative choices
Soil Preparation: Create a firm, fine tilt on seed bed.
Optimum Sowing Time: Mid February to end of May, June if its been raining or rain is due.
Mid August to Early October
Generally sow Anytime, except if 'winter frozen' or 'summer drought'
Sowing Conditions:
Roll the soil firm, sow seed, and roll or rake into surface to keep out of reach from birds. Click here for more
details
Sowing Method:
By hand (00.0015 KG or 1.5 grams = 1 level teaspoon) per square metre
If using seed spreaders, add small quantities at one time, be careful to insure the small varieties of seed do not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and get sown all in the one place.
Performance:
In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) a meadow should germinate 3 - 8 weeks after sowing, from then on, provided the sward is kept open and a 'Thatch' is not
allowed develop, species will continue to germinate and emerge, through to the third year.
First Year with Annuals:
If annuals are supplied with you wildflower seed mixture, it will flower profusely, provided it was sown before June. This mixture requires one cut when finished flowering.
First Year 'without' Annuals, but with Grass: If without annuals but with grasses a wildflower mixture will not flower. A W/F mixture requires one to three cuts, to 8 -15cm in the
first year
Second Year:
In the second year the biennials will also be very colourful.
If this mixture was not cut in first year, cut and remove foliage in early Spring. Cut again in July, August or September, depending on when flower finish or the level of weeds that emerge.
Second Year with Grass: If sown with grasses a wildflower mixture will require one to three cuts in the second year, cut to 8 -15cm.
In the third year:
The perennial species are still young, many will only have germinated in the second season, so flowers will be sparse. However, there should be identifiable foliage and some flowers.
If the native grass seeds present in your soil grow vigorously, the meadow will require two or three cuts, the first cut in Spring (April/May) and the second cut in July or August, the meadow can again be cut in September if the grasses are still
growing strong.
When should this meadow be established and require one cut?
In the fourth year, when the perennials in the mixture should be flowering well and starting to clump and spread, again if the grass is still vigorous cut in spring and in August of the fourth year.
If the perennials are growing
strong there will be no need to cut until July, August or September depending on the fertility and wetness of the soil and the species which have grown.
A wildflower meadow should last many years, provided the wildflower species were correctly established, weeds were controlled and the meadow was cut and the cut material removed and occasional 'Gaps' are created.
Persistence if unmanaged:
Low
Tolerance of Cutting: High after third year.
General Cutting Time: Mid to end of Summer and again in early spring.
Cutting Time:
Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush of flowers fade away, after seeds set.
Disposal of cut materials:
Always remove the cuttings, wildflower meadow hay should be removed as soon as possible and not be heaped on site as it will grow mouldy (a health risk). Meadow
cuttings can be spread as compost in sheet mulches around trees and shrubs or composted.
Management:
Control grasses and weeds until well established. Accept any normal non-invasive weeds as they provide cover, once the sward is established, digging, spot spraying or weed wiping
can be used to eliminate problem species. Control weeds, especially Creeping Buttercup and White Clover, if present cut this meadow in May in year two.
In the third year, maintain this meadow for Scutch grass, creeping thistle, nettle and dock as they will try to dominate as the growing conditions are ideal for such unwanted species.
Wildflower growing is relatively new to horticulturalists, please check our online Wildflower Growers Manual for further details.
Your purchase:
Contributes to DBN's work of creating crops of Conservation Grade - Native Origin Wildflora.
You help us to inform and pay land-owners to manage native
species and to assist DBN in handing on our heritage for another generation.
By growing (some will be difficult) these and all other species, you directly help to conserve national and global Biodiversity and protect wildlife. You should also consider yourself another Irish wildflower grower.
For further reading see:
Seed supply by 'Soil Type'
| Genetic diversity- Seed Triggers. |
Seed Treatments -
Stratification, Scarification and more
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