Wild Flower Mixture Information
The Mixtures
The Main 15 wildflower Species WFM
21042
Annuals Biennials and Perennials
Weight Approx 2 grammes
Sow 1-2g per square yard
1st year flowering some species from Summer to Autumn
Following years different species from Spring to Autumn
A general purpose seed mixture of colourful
annual, biennial and mainly perennial wild flowers of mixed height and flowering
periods, Some species are of value as sources of food for butterflies, bees and
other insects.
For the garden it can be used to establish an ornamental flowering area without
grass. Alternatively it may be sown with suitable grasses to create a grass and
wild flower area if applied at a rate of 1-2g with 2g of 'Low Maintenance'
amenity grass seed mixture.
On the farm it can be used with a suitable low maintenance amenity grass seed
mixture to create an area of attractive flowering grassland on odd corners of
the farm.
Species include :-
Lady's Bedstraw, Birds-foot-trefoil, meadow buttercup, wild carrot, cowslip,
oxeye daisy, dandelion, black medic, pignut, hoary and ribwort plantain, field
scabious, selfheal, common and kidney vetch, yarrow.
Culture :-
Best sown early March to late may or from 1st September to early October.
Select a weed free site, DO NOT use Fertiliser
Clear the ground of both annual and perennial weeds, especially docks, nettles
and thistles. Cultivate the soil to produce a fine tilth, roll to firm.
Mix seed with 9 parts dry sand and broadcast evenly
Lightly rake the seed in and roll to ensure the seed comes into contact with the
moisture in the soil, gently water the seed bed.
If used with a grass seed mixture , during the first year after sowing grass
should be cut every 11/2-2 months to 5-10cm and the cuttings removed. In
following years cut in October after all the flower seeds have shed remove the
cuttings.
Attracting Bats into the garden
WFM 21042A
Mixture of wild and cultivated 'Nectar' rich Plants
Mixture of perennial some annuals and biennials from the following list
Available in 2 gram, 6 gram and 25 gram packets
Sow 0.9-1.35 grams per sq metre
A specially formulated mixture rich in nectar rich species of wild flowers and
cultivated flowers and herbs. Many have night scented flowers that are
attractive to night flying insects such as moths which provide food for our
British Bats, all of which feed on insects especially at dusk.
It is intended to be sown without a grass seed mixture into prepared ground, and
is suitable for creating a permanent ornamental bed of plants with mixed heights
and flowering times. Please note the mixture may not include all the following
seeds.
Species ideal for attracting moths and insects for bats to feed on include :-
Wild flowers; Barberry, Campion Bladder, Centaury, Common Evening-primrose, Corn
Chamomile, Corn Marigold, , Cornflower, Cowslip, Dames-violet, Dog-rose, Field
Poppy, Fleabane, Foxglove, Goldenrod, Herb Bennet, Large Flowered
Evening-primrose, Maiden Pink, Meadow Clary, Meadowsweet, Michealmas-daisy,
Mullien, Night Flowering Catchfly, Nottingham Catchfly, Ox-eye Daisy, Red
Campion, Red Clover, Red Valerian, Scentless Mayweed, Soapwort, Sweet-briar,
Vipers Bugloss, White Campion, Wild Basil, Wild Wallflower and Yarrow.
Cultivated flowers; Brompton Stock, Night Scented Stock, Tobacco Plant, Ten-week
Stock, Virginia stock all Mixed.
Herbs; Borage, Chives, Lemon Balm, Pot Marjoram, Sage, Spearmint.
Cultural Information :-
Sow either late March to early May or late August to mid September in a sunny
weed free site with fertile soil. Balanced organic or inorganic fertiliser can
be used both before and after sowing. Cultivate the ground to prepare the finest
seed bed possible. If necessary tread or roll to get a firm seed bed. Sprinkle
the seed thinly and evenly onto the bed. Lightly rake in with a spring tined
rake, firm the soil.
Keep the seedlings, young plants well-watered. Thin as required using thinnings
as a source for plant material for other areas of the garden. Ensure the site is
kept free of unwanted plants and grass.
One or two species in the mixture might spread rapidly from self sown seed,
remove their heads after flowering to prevent them seeding.
Beneficial Insects Wildflower Mixture
WFM 21042B
Sow 0.5 to 1 gram per sq metre
This packet contains a selection of 10 British Native Plants selected for their
value in creating habitats which encourage beneficial insects to colonise in
your garden. for best results it should be sown in one area. In late summer
choose an area of good weed free soil in a sunny position. Remove weeds and
perennial weed roots and rake the surface to a fine tilth. The addition of
'forest bark' will improve the soil.
Scatter the seed evenly over the surface of the prepared seed bed and lightly
rake in. Water as necessary throughout the growing season. Pull out any obvious
garden weeds. Leave any dead vegetation over winter to provide shelter for
beetles.
In the second season remove dead top growth and thin or transplant any species
which threaten to crowd out the others. If ground cover is not complete apply a
mulch of 'forest bark' between the plants.
Best 3 Wildflower Annuals
WFM 21044
Approx weight 7.5 grammes
Sow 0.5 to 1g per sq metre
A mixture of 3 showy annuals which are exceptionally complimentary to each
other. From a spring sowing , they should start flowering in late June , Corn
Marigold and chamomile usually flower longer than field Poppy and can be
expected to last untill September.
Species include:-
Corn Marigold (chrysanthemum segetum) attractive to butterflies. Field Poppy (papaver
rhoeas) attractive to bees and bumblebees. Corn Chamomile attractive to
butterflies and bees. Scentless Chamomile or mayweed attractive to butterflies
and bees.
Cultural Information :-
Best sown Late March to Mid-May or from early August to Mid-September
Select a sunny weed free site. Use Organic Fertiliser.
Sprinkle seed thinly onto a prepared seed bed, lightly rake in with a spring
tined rake, firm with feet or roller. Water thoroughly with a fine sprayed hose
or watering can. Keep the area well watered and weed free until seedlings are
established. As the seedlings grow some thinning out will be required with as
little root disturbance as possible, use the area as a source of plant material
by transplanting the thinnings to other parts of the garden.
Maintenance of seed bed for the following year :-
During late August to mid september after all the seed has been shed, clear away
the finished plants and remove any grass or weeds. Vigorously rake the surface
of the soil to make a seed bed. Firm the soil and water thoroughly.
Keep the area well watered and free from grass and weeds until the seedlings
establish.
Best 6 Wildflower Annuals
WFM 21046
Approx weight 6 grammes
Sow 1-2g per sq metre
A mixture of 6 showy and colourful annual wild flowers which are exceptionally
complimentary to each other when mixed together. Corn Chamomile and Scentless
Mayweed, Corn Marigold and Field Poppy are commonly found cornfield arable
flowers but not as frequently seen as they once were, especially in profusion.
Corn Cockle and Cornflower are now rarely seen and in danger of becoming
extinct. The decline in the population of all the species in the mixture is
partly due to improved seed cleaning techniques but mainly due to increased use
of more effective herbicides.
It is intended to be sown without a grass seed mixture into prepared ground, and
is suitable for creating a permanent ornamental bed of annual plants.
Species include:-
Corncockle (Argostemm githago), Cornflower (Centaurea cyanus), Corn Chamomile (Anthemis
arvensis), Corn Marigold (Chrysanthemum segetum), Field Poppy (Papaver rhoeas),
Scentless Mayweed (Trileurospermum inodurum), White Campion (Silene alba).
Culture:-
Best sown either late March to mid-May, or from early August to mid-September.
Select a sunny weed free fertile site, use organic fertiliser
Sprinkle seed thinly onto prepared seed bed.
Lightly rake in seed and firm with feet or a roller.
Water thoroughly with a fine sprayed hose.
Keep area well watered and free of grass and weeds. As the seedlings grow some
thinning out (with minimal root disturbance) will be necessary, use thinnings in
other parts of the garden.
Maintenance of seed bed for the following year :-
During late August to mid September after all the seed has been shed, clear away
the finished plants and remove any grass or weeds. Vigorously rake the surface
of the soil to make a seed bed. Firm the soil and water thoroughly.
Keep the area well watered and free from grass and weeds until the seedlings
establish.
Bumblebee Conservation Mix
WFM 21048
Suitable for most garden soils
Sow 0.5-1 gramme per sq metre
A balanced seed mixture of biennial, perennial and some annual wild flowers. The
mixture contains beautiful wild flowers, many rich in nectar, which are known to
be especially attractive to bumblebees. Many species of bumblebee have declined
in numbers and range in recent years. By cultivating a small area of bumblebee
food plants in your garden you will be helping to conserve these important
pollinators.
It is intended to be sown without a grass seed mixture onto prepared ground, and
is particularly suitable for creating a permanent 'Ornamental' bed of plants
with mixed heights and flowering times.
Species include :-
Indian Balsam, betony, Birds-foot-trefoil, Greater and Lesser Burdock, Red
Campion, Charlock, Red Clover, Comfrey, Dandelion, Dead Nettle, Foxglove, Black
Horehound, Hounds-tongue, Common and Greater Knapweed, Ribbed Melilot, dark and
great Mullein, Field and Wild Pansy, Common Poppy, Purple Loosestrife, Common St
Johns-wort, Wood Sage, Teasel, Cotton Thistle, Common Toadflax, Kidney and
Tufted Vetch, Vipers-bugloss, Hedge Woundwort.
Cultural Information :-
Best sown late March to late May, or early August to mid September.
If possible choose a sunny weed free site with fertile soil. Organic or
inorganic fertilizer can be used both before and after sowing.
Sprinkle the seed very thinly onto the prepared seed bed.
Lightly rake the seed in and firm and water thoroughly.
Keep seedlings well watered until they are established.
Thin the seedlings as necessary, using the thinnings for other areas of the
garden.
Ensure the site is kept free from unwanted plants or grass.
Wildflowers for Chalk Grasslands
WFM 21050
Weight approx 15 grammes
Recommended Sowing rate 3 grammes per sq yard
A balanced seed mixture of colourful mainly perennial wild flowers of mixed
height and flowering periods. Specially formulated to turn your garden into an
attractive grassland rich in wild flowers that will attract butterflies and
other insects, birds and small mammals.
The mixture contains some species most usually found in grassland on chalk and
other limestone soils and is primarily intended for use on those soils. It can
however be used successfully on both neutral and moderately acid garden soils if
lime is added to the soil. Apply hydrated lime 75gms per sq metre or similar
product and mix into the top few inches of soil. Top dressings can be applied
from October to February.
Species include :-
20% wild flowers: Bedstraw, clustered bellflower, common birds-foot-trefoil,
burnet salad, wild carrot, cats-ear, cowslip, oxeye daisy, dropwort, rough
hawkbit, greater knapweed, hoary plantain, rock rose, scabious small and field,
wild strawberry, wild thyme, vetch horseshoe and kidney.
80% low maintenance grasses: upright brome, crested, dogs-tail, fescue:-
chewings creeping red hard and sheep's, oat grass.
Culture :-
Best sown from early March to late May or from 1st September to early October.
If possible, select a weed free site of low fertility. Do not use fertiliser.
Clear the ground of both annual and perennial weeds and cultivate the soil to
form a fine tilth, and roll.
Mix the seed thoroughly with 9 parts dry sand and broadcast evenly.
After sowing, the seed should be lightly raked in and the are rolled to ensure
the seed comes into contact with the moist soil.
After Care:-
During the 1st year grass should be cut every 11/2 to 2 months to 5-10cm and all
cuttings removed. In the following years cut in October after all flower seeds
have been shed, remove the cuttings.
Wildflowers for Coastal Areas
WFM 21052
Approx Weight 2 gram
Sow 0.5 to 1 gram per sq metre
A balanced seed mixture of attractive and colourful seaside flowers. It contains
species found growing in coastal areas on unstable and stable sand dunes,
cliffs, shingles and salt marshes. All should grow satisfactory in ordinary
garden soil, but most will respond well to sand being added to the soil. It is
intended to be sown without a grass seed mixture into prepared ground, and is
suitable for creating a permanent ornamental bed.
Species include :-
Bedstraw, Birds-foot-trefoil, sea Campion, cat's-ear, common Centaury, Clover
Hares Foot, Strawberry and Wild White, Dog-Violet, Evening Primrose large
flowered, Harebell, Horned-poppy yellow, Hounds-Tongue, Greater Knapweed, Tree
Lupin, Corn Marigold, Marsh-Mallow, Pink-Deptford, Sea Plantain, Restharrow,
Sea-Holly, Sheeps-Bit, Thistle, Thrift, Thyme Wild, Toadflax, Kidney Vetch,
Vipers-bugloss and Yarrow.
Culture :-
Best sown late March to late May, or early August to mid September. If sowing
after 1st June ensure seed bed is kept well watered.
If possible choose a weed free site with fertile soil. Organic or inorganic
fertilizer can be used both before and after sowing.
Sprinkle the seed very thinly onto the prepared seed bed.
Lightly rake the seed in and firm and water thoroughly.
Keep seedlings well watered until they are established.
Thin the seedlings as necessary, using the thinnings for other areas of the
garden.
Ensure the site is kept free from unwanted plants or grass.