Suggested sowing rates

15kg/ha                6kg/acre            1.5g/m²

Description

This wild flower mixture is suitable for sowing onto engineered substrates of green roof schemes.

Preparation

Create or construct a suitable growing bed that is free of weeds, has reasonable texture and structure and can retain moisture. A depth of 75 – 150mm or more is best for supporting the widest range of plant species.  Shallow depths (less than 75mm) and  ‘extensive’ growing medium designed for sedums are not usually adequate and will not contain sufficient moisture or nutrients.

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 along the lines of grassland care. ER1F can be sown on its own onto clean growing medium to create an open flower rich community or combined with a light sowing of 1g/m2 fine grass mixture EG6. To create “turf roof” grassland we recommend mix ER1 which is a premixed combination of  ER1F and EG6. The further addition of 1g /m2 colourful annual wild flower seed mix EC1 will give quick colour and a supply of seeds to colonise bare ground after die back events.

Composition

Wild Flowers 100%

0.5 Achillea millefolium – Yarrow

6.5 Anthyllis vulneraria – Kidney Vetch

12.5 Centaurea nigra – Common Knapweed

5.0 Cruciata laevipes – Crosswort

0.5 Filipendula vulgaris – Dropwort

5.0 Galium album – (Galium mollugo) – Hedge Bedstraw

2.5 Galium verum – Lady’s Bedstraw

0.5 Hippocrepis comosa – Horseshoe Vetch

5.0 Leucanthemum vulgare – Oxeye Daisy – (Moon Daisy)

1.0 Lotus corniculatus – Birdsfoot Trefoil

15.0 Malva moschata – Musk Mallow

0.5 Origanum vulgare – Wild Marjoram

5.0 Plantago lanceolata – Ribwort Plantain

5.0 Plantago media – Hoary Plantain

10.0 Poterium sanguisorba – (Sanguisorba minor) – Salad Burnet

0.5 Primula veris – Cowslip

10.0 Prunella vulgaris – Selfheal

5.0 Rhinanthus minor – Yellow Rattle

5.0 Rumex acetosella – Sheep’s Sorrel

5.0 Silene vulgaris – Bladder Campion