Bee & Butterfly Meadow Mix

Growing instructions: 

(Full instructions will be sent with any purchase of these seeds)

Preparation:

Sowing into existing grass

The grass should be cut as short as possible and then raked or scarified so any moss, thatch or other debris is removed.                                                                                                                                 

Sowing into bare soil:                                                                                                                                           

Clear all existing plants from the area to be sown.                                                                                                      

Lightly dig/fork the area over to loosen the soil and create a fine tilth and then rake until level.                   

Tread over the bed to firm it so that it is possible to stand on the soil and not leave deep footprints. 

Sowing:                                                                                                        

If sowing into existing grass, sow in the autumn as the grass growth will be slower and provide less competition for the wildflowers.                                                                                                                              

For bare soil, sow between March and November considering the weather conditions in your area.  If it is a cold, wet spring, delay sowing until things warm up.                                                                                                                                    

The seeds should be sown at a rate of 3g per square metre.  It's a good idea to weigh out 3g to give you a rough idea of the correct quantity.                                                                                                                         

The seed can also be mixed with dry sharp sand, or some other inert substance, which makes it easier to get an even distribution.                    This also makes it easier to see where you have sown and spot any areas you've missed.  We would suggest a ratio of 1 gram of seeds to 4 grams of sand.                                                                                                                                

Broadcast the seed by scattering by hand or by using a handheld or wheeled seed spreader.                                             

As the seeds vary in size, they will separate so regularly mix the seed during sowing.                                       

When you have sown the seeds, it's important to make sure the seeds are in contact with the soil.                      

Do this by raking very lightly,  (only to a depth of 0.5 cm as the seed must not be buried deeper than 0.7cm), rolling the area or lightly walking over it.                                                                                                                             

Looking after your flower meadow:                                                                                                   

This mix contains mainly perennial species which take a little time to become established and aren't likely to flower during the first year,        however, the annual species it contains are likely to flower and provide a pretty display which will attract pollinators.

During the first year it is common for some weed* species to appear from dormant seeds which have been activated by the ground disturbance.                                                                                                                                   

These should be removed once they are flowering, (and can be reliably identified), but before they set seed.     

The meadow can be cut back once the flowers have finished in the autumn although leaving it until just before the spring growth in February or March is recommended because the meadow will provide shelter for wildlife throughout the winter including some butterflies and moths.                                                                                                   

Before you cut the meadow, please check for any hedgehogs or other creatures that are hiding amongst the vegetation.                                      Hedgehogs will not run away when they hear you approaching but just curl tightly into a ball which is no protection from garden tools, especially strimmers.                                             

Cut the meadow down to about 10cm using a scythe, strimmer or mower and leave the cuttings on the ground for about a week to allow any seeds to fall to earth.                                                                                                                                   

If you've sown into existing grass you may need to cut twice a year, at the beginning of March and November.   

This will encourage the wildflowers to grow by providing them with more light and air.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  

*weeds – We dislike using this word but to keep putting "wildflowers that are growing where you don’t want them to" is a bit cumbersome  ☺