How to make a wildflower meadow
When was the last time you were walking along and saw one of the beautiful tapestry of grasses and flowers that make up a wildflower meadow?... quite possibly not for a long time. Since the industrialisation of farming and increasing monoculture growing practices there has been a 97% decline in flower filled pastures. Whereas previously it was common to see wildflower meadows up and down the country where they were grown as a source of winter food for livestock, today most filled are intensively farmed for crop production.
Fortunately, in recent years, wildflower meadows have seen a revival, this time in urban gardens. This revival is powered by concerns over the decline of pollinating insects in recent years… You’ve heard about the bees dying, well the loss of wildflower meadows and other essential habitats, along with the rise of pesticides, are contributing heavily to their decline. It’s not just bees, there is a massive diversity of insects, bird and mammals that have traditionally relied on wildflower meadows for food and shelter.
Wildlife habitat creation isn’t the only reason to make a wildflower meadow awesome. They are spectacular to look at. Managing a meadow can be very rewarding if you have the space. Prepare to see an explosion of colour and growth every year… Don’t get me wrong, it’s a lot of work... A lot! If you’re going to create a wildflower meadow you have to be prepared to put the work in and you might not see the benefits right away. When you do, however, it’s more than worth it.
The wildflower meadow is the mini jungle that all these species call home. Hopefully you’re starting to see why they are so important!
Top tips for creating a wildflower meadow
Step 1. Choose your area
Try and make the area that you choose as large an area as possible. You’ll have to be brave but… how much of your lawn do you really use anyway? Make sure it’s in a sunny spot.
Lastly, measure the area so you can work out how many seeds you’ll need.
Step 2. Choose your meadow
There are two types of meadow to choose.
Spring meadows flower in mid march to late June.
Summer meadows flower in August.
Once you’ve made your decision stick to it!
Chose carefully because both have slightly different needs and it’d be shame if you couldn’t keep up to them.
Step 3. Prepare a bed of poor soil.
Perennial meadows prefer poor soil because it makes it easier for the wildflowers to compete with the grasses. Now this is the tricky bit because more than likely the area of your garden you want to use will have fertile soil. You’re going to have to change that.
The fastest way to do this is to remove the top 5cm - 10cm of top soil from the area. Do this in either July or August. Allow the ground to rest for a couple of months before planting and keep an eye out for any weeds popping up. You could even cover the patch with some tarp or black plastic for a growing season to kill off any unwanted perennial weeds.
In some cases it may be necessary to spray with a herbicide to clear the land before sowing. Although we hate using chemicals, in this case it may be that the ultimate benefits of sowing a wild flower meadow outweigh the initial environmental costs of using the chemical. Consult a professional if you decide to go down this route.
Step 4. Sow your seeds
With lighter soil it’s better to sow your seeds in August because the seeds will establish quicker and germinate in the next spring. However with heavier, more wet soils it is advisable to wait until March - April time, otherwise the seeds might rot in the winter months.
Try to make sure you’ve sown the seeds evenly and then water thoroughly. Always buy your seeds from a reputable retailer.
It’s a good idea to use a metal rake to fluff up the soil before sowing but don’t turn the soil over or you will disturb the seed bank held in the soil which may harbour unwanted weeds.
Also it might be worth netting the area or using plastic bags and CDs on string to scare off any birds that might eat your seeds.
Step 5. Mow your meadow first spring
Mow the grasses as soon as they’ve reached 10cm and remove the clippings. Make sure you’ve got sharp blades on your mower so you don’t rip up new seedlings. Removing the clippings will prevent the soil being fertilised by the rotting down of the dead grass. In times gone by this would have been done by grazing livestock.
Top tip:
Changing between earlier (early July) and later cuts (late August), rather than cutting at the same time each year will allow later flowering plants to set seed.
6. During year 1 mow every 6 - 8 weeks
You’ll not get any flowers in the first year but this help everything get established for the years to come.
7. Ongoing
Spring meadow. After the spring, in July, mow and remove the clippings for the rest of the growing season. It is worth leaving the clippings on the ground for a couple of days after mowing the first couple of times. This gives the grasses the chance to shed their seeds in to the ground but don't leave them in situ to decompose.
Summer meadow. Mow in March and remove the clippings. Then mow again in late September and maybe once more in late Autumn if there’s been sufficient growth.