Are you leaving the turf to grow long, or digging it up?
Just a thought....could seeds be sown into biodegradable fibre pots, and then planted out? Simply dig out patches of the turf where you want the flowers. Kind of like homemade wildflower plugs.
I've never done this, could be a crazy idea
This type of pot ⬇
The seeds are "Phacelia", a new one for me this year. Apparently the bees love it ?
It's a hardy annual which should self seed itself, also used as a soil improver and green manure.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm not really sure about letting the grass grow or digging it out. I guess whatever is recommended, however I expect leaving it there for now and then planting around will keep it looking decent for now.
When is the best time to plant up some of the wildflowers?
It depends which plants you decide to go for. Summer is coming up and it takes a lot of watering to establish things in summer.
Native wildflowers do well planted in autumn
there is a lot of confusion re wildflowers, there are packets of wildflower seed available that contain wildflowers from all over the world. Most of these are not hardy
I'm in the middle of prepping and planting a new perennial and shrub border so I've had a think and decided I have enough on at the moment without starting a new project.
I will, therefore, be doing mine this autumn - September probably.
I will be lifting turf (it's only a 3m x 3m area) and using a wildflower / grass seed mix from one of the specialist companies - in addition to plugs and bulbs. There should still be enough warmth and light for the seed to germinate but (hopefully) at that time of year I won't need to do as much watering once things get going.
Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
Ok great! I'll look those up and see what I can get hold of. So you think if I plant some more established plugs and bulbs alongside seed it should take? When would be the best time to do that?
Last question, what is the upkeep / maintenance like for a small meadow?
Cornflowers are gorgeous for their shade of blue. Borage & Phacelia are a must if you are catering to bees have a google. I just picked up my Phacelia seeds today
Cornflowers are gorgeous for their shade of blue. Borage & Phacelia (like Kitty said) are a must if you are catering to bees have a google. I just picked up my Phacelia seeds today
If you want cornflowers, borage and phacelia you'll have to remove the grass.
2 totally different styles of 'meadow'. There's perennials in grass, a long term project, or annuals in prepared soil. Either would work, neither are a labour saving option
Posts
Are you leaving the turf to grow long, or digging it up?
Just a thought....could seeds be sown into biodegradable fibre pots, and then planted out? Simply dig out patches of the turf where you want the flowers. Kind of like homemade wildflower plugs.
I've never done this, could be a crazy idea
This type of pot ⬇
The seeds are "Phacelia", a new one for me this year. Apparently the bees love it ?
It's a hardy annual which should self seed itself, also used as a soil improver and green manure.
Thanks for the feedback! I'm not really sure about letting the grass grow or digging it out. I guess whatever is recommended, however I expect leaving it there for now and then planting around will keep it looking decent for now.
When is the best time to plant up some of the wildflowers?
It depends which plants you decide to go for. Summer is coming up and it takes a lot of watering to establish things in summer.
Native wildflowers do well planted in autumn
there is a lot of confusion re wildflowers, there are packets of wildflower seed available that contain wildflowers from all over the world. Most of these are not hardy
In the sticks near Peterborough
I'm in the middle of prepping and planting a new perennial and shrub border so I've had a think and decided I have enough on at the moment without starting a new project.
I will, therefore, be doing mine this autumn - September probably.
I will be lifting turf (it's only a 3m x 3m area) and using a wildflower / grass seed mix from one of the specialist companies - in addition to plugs and bulbs. There should still be enough warmth and light for the seed to germinate but (hopefully) at that time of year I won't need to do as much watering once things get going.
Are the plants you recommnded above, nutcutlet, hardy enough?
any plant I mention is hardy enough Philgeorge. I don't do tender stuff. They are native plants, they can cope with all they get.
In the sticks near Peterborough
Ok great! I'll look those up and see what I can get hold of. So you think if I plant some more established plugs and bulbs alongside seed it should take? When would be the best time to do that?
Last question, what is the upkeep / maintenance like for a small meadow?
Cornflowers are gorgeous for their shade of blue. Borage & Phacelia are a must if you are catering to bees
have a google. I just picked up my Phacelia seeds today
Cornflowers are gorgeous for their shade of blue. Borage & Phacelia (like Kitty said) are a must if you are catering to bees
have a google. I just picked up my Phacelia seeds today
If you want cornflowers, borage and phacelia you'll have to remove the grass.
2 totally different styles of 'meadow'. There's perennials in grass, a long term project, or annuals in prepared soil. Either would work, neither are a labour saving option
In the sticks near Peterborough