Suggested sowing rates

40kg/ha                16kg/acre            4g/m²

Description

This wild flower and grass mixture is suitable for sowing green roof schemes where a turf of grasses with wild flowers is the desired end point.

Preparation

Create or construct a suitable growing bed that is free of weeds, has reasonable texture and structure and can retain moisture. A minimum depth of 75mm of a substrate with some nutrient and moisture holding capacity will be required to support grass growth.  A greater depth and/or irrigation may be needed in drier regions.

Sowing

Seed is best sown in the autumn or spring but can be sown at other times of the year if there is sufficient warmth and moisture. On shallow growing medium irrigation may be needed to maintain establishment through dry periods.  The seed must be surface sown: do not incorporate or cover the seed. Bulk up the seed with an inert carrier such as sand to make distribution easier.

Aftercare

The requirement for aftercare will vary from scheme to scheme. Some will need minimal maintenance, perhaps only occasional tidying cuts for aesthetic reasons. Living roofs with reasonable growing conditions will produce growth that is likely to need annual maintenance for best results. This gardening will involve weeding and mowing.

ER1 is a complete mix composed of 20% native wild flowers and 80% slow growing grasses (by weight). The flower and grass components are also available to order separately: ER1F the flower component may be sown alone where no grasses are required or sown with the grass component EG6 at a reduced rate.

Composition

Wild Flowers 20%

1.3 Achillea millefolium – Yarrow

0.1 Anthyllis vulneraria – Kidney Vetch

2.5 Centaurea nigra – Common Knapweed

1.0 Cruciata laevipes – Crosswort

0.1 Filipendula vulgaris – Dropwort

1.0 Galium album – (Galium mollugo) – Hedge Bedstraw

0.5 Galium verum – Lady’s Bedstraw

0.1 Hippocrepis comosa – Horseshoe Vetch

1.0 Leucanthemum vulgare – Oxeye Daisy – (Moon Daisy)

0.2 Lotus corniculatus – Birdsfoot Trefoil

3.0 Malva moschata – Musk Mallow

0.1 Origanum vulgare – Wild Marjoram

1.0 Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort Plantain

1.0 Plantago media – Hoary Plantain

2.0 Poterium sanguisorba – (Sanguisorba minor) – Salad Burnet

0.1 Primula veris – Cowslip

2.0 Prunella vulgaris – Selfheal

1.0 Rhinanthus minor – Yellow Rattle

1.0 Rumex acetosella – Sheep’s Sorrel

1.0 Silene vulgaris – Bladder Campion

Grasses 80%

4.0 Briza media – Quaking Grass (w)

0.2 Carex flacca – Glaucous Sedge

24.0 Cynosurus cristatus – Crested Dogstail

24.0 Festuca ovina – Sheep’s Fescue

24.0 Festuca rubra – Red Fescue

2.0 Koeleria macrantha – Crested Hair-grass (w)

1.8 Trisetum flavescens – Yellow Oat-grass (w)