Habitat Creation | Wildflower habitats

Things to consider

Sowing rate. The seed supplier will advise the optimum sowing rate for the particular seed mix. For annual wild flowers only, this is 0.5 - 2g per square metre. For annual wildflower / grass mixes (20%/80%) the rate is 3.75 - 5 g per sq. m.

Fertile top soils are not suitable for biennial wildflower meadows. Subsoil, free draining gravel, building rubble and other material provide sites which advantage grasses and allow space for wildflowers to thrive and seed.

Don't get disheartened if your wildflower mix does not show all the flowers it promised in the first season, Growing wildflowers from seed is a slow process. Seeds of different species don't all grow at the same rate, it may take several years for some seed to grow into a bulblet capable of flowering. The average time can vary from 2-3 years before flowering.

Yellow Rattle is a most useful and interesting species. Apart from being common, attractive and growing readily from seed. Of particular interest, however, is that the plant is semi-parasitic on most grass species, but not on flower species! These means yellow rattle can be used as a tool to manipulate the balance between grass and flower species in established or new sowings.

Finally, eventually you will really be able to see a new habitat that has been created from a bit of patience and thought. Just think another piece of boring grass used to be where now butterflies and other insects rush too.

related links

BTCV Enterprises - Trees & Wildflowers, Tel 01302 859522
Emorsgate Seeds - Tel 01553 829028

Note: Always check how the wildflower mixes & plants are obtained (usually obtained by collecting seed from native stock in the wild, from which plant stocks are grown in the nursery).