Wildflower garden

You can buy an actual mat of turf that's already sown with wild flower seedlings mrsmopp. They come in varying sizes and with various plants already planted. I've posted a link to the first one on Amazon but there ard loads of others to try as well. My ex H used one on a shed roof and it looks very good from the bedroom window!

www.amazon.co.uk/Meadowmat-Mead-TAM1-Traditional-Wildflower-Multi-Colour/dp/B074NL39QK/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=meadowmat&tag=gransnetforum-21&ie=UTF8&qid=1534367073&sr=8-1

I am sure that if you look this all up on google, you will find lots of info.

My DD is creating a wild flower and nature sanctuary in a rough old paddock. They have had several folk with large diggers working on it. The first thing that has to happen is that the topsoil has to go because it is too rich for wild flowers to thrive.

There are various companies who come and do it for you; but I am sure the info as to what is needed to DIY will be on the net.

I am so looking forward to their garden coming to fruition - there are to be two wildlife ponds as well.

You also have to kill off the grass first because it is so virulent that it swamps the flowers.

Here is a link to RSPB: www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/activities/give-nature-a-home-in-your-garden/garden-activities/startawildflowermeadow/

Also the Eden Project have info about it.

Good luck with yours!

If you want to try and do it this autumn. If your soil is quite light and sandy, you may be ok. I'd dig out some biggish areas, at least 6 foot square, and remove all the turf there, and all the weed roots.

Then also remove the top two inches or so of soil. . Scatter sharp sand, mix with soil, and sow seeds.

My garden has become partly (naturally) wild by many self sown or bird sown flowers
I have a huge lavender bush, tiny when I put it in a few years ago and yesterday I counted nine bees on it I also have poppies everywhere bees love the big purple ones and the orange California, all self seeded Foxgloves too, the bees disappear in the trumpets I have cornflowers and cowslips all over the place. I m not a formal garden person so although I have put some plants in most are surprise presents from the birds
Please don’t worry about removing loads of soil ( if it’s just a small area) I have done nothing maybe my soil is poor already ?I ve no idea, and they have all grown naturally I ve just let it happen. I personally don’t like the idea of buying instant gardens it’s not nearly as much fun as finding something youve never put in suddenly pop up
It won’t all happen the first year but gradually it ll build up and each year you ll get lovely surprises

Getting wild flowers established is not easy because you also get lots of dominant weeds and grasses emerging with the seeds you plant.
Probably the best way is to remove the turf from an area because wild flowers do best in low fertility, then just rake your seeds into the surface to avoid bringing other seeds to the surface, you will still have to remove unwanted plants by hand in the spring.
Remember many wild flowers grow in bare soil, they will not regenerate the following years.

Diana you're right, we planted a wildflower garden outside our fence and for several years it was beautiful, but for the past 2 I'm embarrassed to claim ownership, because ugly, weed-like plants have killed everything else off. We had Californian poppies, Love-in-the-Mist, a lovely variety of flowers, now all gone.

How to get it back to its former glory?

When I bemoan the state of it, I do of course have people telling me "A weed is just a flower in the wrong place". Indeed.

You have to cut the meadow area at the right time, I think it's late August. This gives the annual wildflowers flowers time to set and drop their seeds, for next year.

It's also important to keep the normal grass away from the area, many delicate plants can't compete with thuggish grass, especially until established. The seeds like poor dry free draining soil, even a bit stony.

Make sure you sow some yellow rattle seeds with your meadow mix. It helps to prevent grass from competing too strongly.

We're about to attempt a wildflower meadow at the back of our mobile home that we use for visitors. The drought has helped with the removal of weeds so next month should be the optimum time now we've had quite a lot of rain. Our soil is fertile though so I'm sure it will be high maintenance - just like everything else in our garden

You can buy the seeds from Kings Seeds online.

www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gardening-blog/2012/sep/27/yellow-rattle-meadow-grassland