Have you ever driven past a wildflower meadow and wished you could create something similar at home? Wildflower meadows have been popular in the UK for decades, but they're increasing in popularity in Australia, and there’s no wonder why. Not only are they spectacular to look at, but they also have many benefits.
So, read on for the five reasons you should consider growing a wildflower meadow in your garden and learn how to grow on with Mr Fothergill’s Seeds!
Five Benefits of Wildflower Meadows
The benefits of wildflower meadows are far greater than just a nice view from your kitchen window. Let’s explore them in detail, starting with a crucial part of any garden.
Unfortunately, bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects are under increasing threat due to pesticides, parasites, and urbanisation. By planting flower seeds, you are providing pollen and nectar for beneficial insects to feed on.
As well as helping the crops, we personally love watching these little busy creatures go about their business, buzzing around the garden, too!
Many vegetable crops rely on fertilisation from pollinators to fruit. By growing an abundance of flowers nearby, you are encouraging these pollinators to visit your garden, which means more pollination of your food crops.
Wildflower meadows include lots of flower varieties that all thrive at different times of the year, which means your meadow colours and smells will change with the seasons. Gardening has also been linked to many mental health benefits, so as well as a nice view, you’ll be giving yourself some time to relax.
Lawns have been a mainstay of Australian homes for generations, but with our ever-changing climate and busy schedules, many are turning to wildflower meadow alternatives to replace a traditional lawn.
Once established, a wildflower meadow will mostly look after itself, and many flower varieties (especially natives) require very little water or fertiliser. Wildflower meadows also help cover steep or sloping areas where conventional gardening or mowing may be too difficult.
Growing taller plants such as wildflowers can shade out common weeds found in lawns, such as bindies, and as plants mature and die off, they return organic matter to your soil. It’s a win/win!
How to Grow a Wildflower Meadow
Unsure how to grow a wildflower meadow? We’ve got you covered with six simple steps.
1. Choose your Site
Start by choosing the right location for your wildflower meadow. As a rule, most wildflowers require a sunny position to thrive, so choose an area that receives at least 8 hours of sun a day.
2. Prepare the Site
Whilst it may sound like a good idea to just cultivate your area and throw out some seeds, setting up your wildflower meadow does require some planning.
When you cultivate any spot to bare ground you are essentially triggering the growth of weeds whose job is to cover bare soil. Your meadow seeds are unlikely to outcompete vigorous weeds, so we suggest preparing your soil by removing existing vegetation and the top layer of soil. Then, cover the area with dark plastic or cardboard to kill off any remaining weed seeds.
Ideally, leave the area covered for an entire season (three months, usually over winter). After this, you should have a blank canvas to start growing your meadow.
There are other options to speed up the process such as covering the area with cardboard and then adding at least 5cm of quality weed-free soil mix (sourced from a reputable supplier that meets Australian standards). This will allow you to start sowing sooner whilst suppressing weeds and giving your seeds a good base to set root.
You may be tempted to spray the area with herbicide and while this is effective, it could be harmful to the pollinators you are trying to attract. If this is your only option, we suggest spraying in winter when there are fewer flowers around and as a result, fewer pollinators.
3. Start Your Seeds in Trays
We suggest using a mixture of direct sowing and seedling plugs to get your meadow started. While you wait for your soil to be ready, sow seeds into silicone seed punnets or Jiffy pellets to establish some seedlings that are ready to plant out when the time is right.
4. Wait for Suitable Weather to Plant
The perfect planting day would be warm with light rain on the horizon, so plan for when the soil is warm and contains moisture and start with your seedlings. Next, scatter seeds between the plants, and lightly rake them in before finishing off with a light sprinkling of water.
We advise against using mulch on your planting area as this will most likely result in poor germination of the seeds you sow.
5. Keep on Top of Weeds
As your meadow establishes itself, you will need to keep on top of any weeds that may pop up.
6. Keep Planting
The fun has just begun! Once your meadow has established itself, you can start adding more flower seeds. Keep a diary of what’s grown well and what hasn’t so you can find options to complement the strongest growers. Taking regular photos is also a great idea to see which varieties flower in each season.
Understand your Wildflower Options
Although called ‘wildflower meadows’, they don’t have to be made up solely of local flower species. So, what flowers are in a wildflower meadow? Natives are preferred, but any flower that looks and acts like a wildflower in your area is suitable.
Australian native seeds include everlastings, billy button, kangaroo paw, swan river daisy, coral creeper, native iris, strawflower/paper daisy, sturt pea, and fringed lily and our Australian Wildflower Mix is also a great premixed option. Exotic species suitable for a wildflower meadow include Agastache, borage, cornflower, cosmos, nigella, daisies, marigold, calendula, poppies, alyssum, sage, and nemophila.
We have many premixed seed options such as our Bee & Butterfly Mix, Beneficial Insect Mix, Bee Friendly Mix Shaker, Butterfly Friendly Shaker Mix, and Cottage Garden Mix.
Buy Seeds For a Wildflower Meadow at Mr Fothergill’s Seeds
Ready to embrace that wildflower meadow life? We’ve got you covered. Check out our full flower seeds range and take a look at our garden advice blog to make a success out of your home garden, whether you’re growing vegetables, fruit, herbs, or flowers.
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