Perennial wildflower meadows are ideal for bare patches in the garden, large and small. Pollinating insects will be pleased, too.
Discover three ways to create a mini meadow.
Sown now, perennial wildflowers such as ragged robin, ox-ey
e daisies, bellflowers and lady’s smock (Cardamine pratensis) will germinate quickly and put on plenty of growth, giving some flowers later this year, but the real display will be a glorious mass of flowers next spring and summer.
In this video, Monty Don recommends a selection of beautiful native meadow flowers for a range of garden situations, and demonstrates how to sow the seeds into trays indoors in spring.
Discover how to create your own own colour-infused meadow by sowing perennial wildflowers, below.
You Will Need
- Garden rake
- Wildflower seed
Step 1
Before sowing perennial wildflowers, the site must be first cleared of competitive weeds. Prepare for sowing by firming the soil, then raking it to a fine tilth before soaking with water.
Step 2
For random coverage, mix up the seed before scattering them over the area. On large sites, stand on a board to avoid damaging the raked surface.
Step 3
Gently rake the seed into the surface and protect from grazing birds by installing bright scarers or netting.
Use the right seeds
When buying seeds, avoid seed mixes that contain a high proportion of grass seed, as these can outcompete perennial flowers. A good alternative to bought seed mixes is to buy individual packets of the flowers you want, and to create your own seed mix.
