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Wild flower patch or weeds
primrosecottage
Posts: 817
in Talkback
Morning guys day in the garden planned and I've found the patch I've had for the past two years looks really messy. I think that weeds are taking over, tufts of grass the odd dandelion and some spready small leaf plant I'm sure is weed and not wild flower, these I can pull out but there are a good number of small shoots I can't identify.
Would I be best to scrape whole bed back and rescatter a seed mix or stick with it and if so will the flowers compete with the weeds.
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There are many on this forum who will tell you wild flowers are weeds
They're probably right but I still like them. The strongest, those called weeds, will always take over and will need removing if you don't like them
In the sticks near Peterborough
Are you trying for one of the annual wild flower patches?
In the sticks near Peterborough
Thanks Nut I only wish I knew which ones are the ones I like they mostly look alike when just seedlings perhaps I'll leave well alone and hope. do you think if I scattered a mix it might help ?
Yes I think most are annual but the allium have come up and I was hoping the Borage would too along with other self seeded bits like cosmos and poppies and a couple more I don't know the name of I was thinking it might look after itself in time
I think this was not a native wild flower mix, cosmos is not native. Our natives are stronger, they're in their own habitat
In the sticks near Peterborough
You've possibly got it right Hollie but the ones I've grown in trays I've put in an old veg bed for cutting so perhaps I'll try sowing a few more as I don't cut the patch well only a few Borage flowers (after five o clock somewhere )
Thanks Nut I didn't really think it out I'll perhaps have to go to the GC and check the seed packets the ones I got before were from m+s and lidl so might not have been the best I'll keep the cosmos for the beds do you think leaving the grass tufts is ok ?it's not couch grass just the soft stuff . I quite like the dandelion and buttercup but they will really push the others out . I have a few red nettles but they don't look very strong but quite pretty.
the red nettles are annuals and the bees love them. Creeping buttercup is a thug and will take over, Meadow Buttercup, Ranunculus acris, is more refined. Grasses are part of our native plants, the Brizas, quaking grasses are lovely but prolific seeders.
I think most people growing annual mixes cultivate the ground, just like you would for any annual mix, and remove perennial weeds like dandelions and buttercups
In the sticks near Peterborough
More work then Nut hey ho another task in progress or would you suggest differently is your wild garden more perennial ?