Suggested sowing rates
15kg/ha 6kg/acre 1.5g/m2
Description
This mixture contains a very wide range of flower species. It is useful for adding diversity to a site where conditions vary across it, or where precise soil and site characteristics have not been established before sowing.
Growing guide
100% wild flowers mixtures are best sown into existing grass or combined with a suitable grass seed mix. If sown alone without grass onto bare soil the spaces left between the sown flowers will be filled by grasses and other weeds.
Ground preparation
When sowing wild flower seed directly into existing grass the site must be carefully chosen and the ground preparation must be good. Select grassland on poor to moderately fertile soil with a fine sward structure and few perennial weeds or vigorous grasses. Unless yellow rattle is already established in the sward, results can often be improved by adding yellow rattle seed at up to 1g/m2 to this mix. Control any perennial weeds such as docks or thistles. Prepare the ground for sowing in late summer by cutting and/or grazing very hard and create gaps either with harrows or by raking (aiming to create around 50% bare soil).
Sowing
Sow in the autumn using a 100% wild flower mixture. Bulk up the seed with an inert carrier such as sand to make distribution easier. The seed must be surface sown and can be applied by machine or broadcast by hand. Rolling is not usually necessary.
First year management
After sowing continue mowing or grazing as needed aiming to keep the grass short (30-50mm). Continue mowing/grazing through winter and early spring as needed. Stop mowing/grazing in April and leave until July/August at which time you can manage the sowing as you would established grassland as described below.
With the exception of yellow rattle most of the sown meadow species are perennial and will be slow to germinate, grow and flower, particularly against the competition from established grasses.
Management once established
Established grassland can be managed in a number of ways which, in association with soil fertility, will determine its character. The best results are usually obtained by traditional meadow management based around a main summer hay cut in combination with autumn, and possibly spring, mowing or grazing.
Meadow grassland is not cut or grazed from spring through to late July/August to give sown species an opportunity to flower. After flowering in July or August take a ‘hay cut’: cut back with a scythe, petrol strimmer or tractor mower to c 50mm. Leave the ‘hay’ to dry and shed seed for 1-7 days then remove from site. Mow or graze the re-growth through to late autumn/winter to c 50mm and again in spring if needed.
EM3F is a mixture containing 100% native wild flowers for sowing into existing grass or combining with a suitable grass seed mix. EG1 is the grass mix we recommend for sowing with these flowers. EM3F and EG1 are available premixed as a complete meadow mixture EM3.
Composition
Wild Flowers 100%
0.8 Agrimonia eupatoria – Agrimony
0.8 Anthyllis vulneraria – Kidney Vetch
0.8 Betonica officinslis – Betony
8.0 Centaurea nigra – Common Knapweed
4.0 Centaurea scabiosa – Greater Knapweed
2.4 Chaerphyllum temulum – Rough Chervil
7.9 Daucus carota – Wild Carrot
4.0 Filipendula ulmaria – Meadowsweet
4.8 Filipendula vulgaris – Dropwort
1.2 Galium verum – Lady’s Bedstraw
6.4 Knautia arvesnsis – Field scabious
4.0 Leontodon hispidus – Rough Hawkbit
4.0 Leucanthemum vulgare – Oxeye Daisy
1.2 Lotus corniculatus – Birdsfoot Trefoil
8.0 Malva moschata – Musk Mallow
6.0 Plantago lanceolata – Ribworth Plantain
11.9 Ranunculus acris – Meadow Buttercup
7.9 Rhinanthus minor – Yellow Rattle
1.6 Rumex acetosella – Sheeps Sorrel
6.3 Scabiosa columbaria – Small Scabious
1.6 Silene latifolia – White Campion
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