Making a mini wildflower meadow

My front green has an area that doesn't get mowed, my son has specific instructions to leave it growing, and I will snip it back if it gets too high, in case the neighbours complain ( they never have)
In the back garden I have an area of natural beauty that I allow to do what it likes. I have thrown seeds of various types there over the years and it's quite nice seeing what comes up. I've seen some aqueligia this time round. Centre of it, I put a dwarf cherry tree, so once that starts getting fruit, it will be another food source for the birdies.
At the moment it looks a.mess, bit once this flowers start a popping up, it's gonna be gorgeous!

Silverbrooks and Church view, thank you! Great advice. Picking up bits and pieces from the garden centre tomorrow so I'll get some seeds too. Can't wait!

Oh Dazy that's disappointing. My runner beans failed to grow at all this year for no reason I can see, so I know how frustrating it can be.

Silverbrooks gives some great answers for why things might not have worked.

I'd add that I rake the ground, scatter the seeds then gently rake over the ground again and then compress the soil lightly (by pressing the head of the rake down over the patch) to make sure the seeds are 'bedded in'. You could use a trowel if you don't have a rake. Gently water them as sometimes vigorous watering can swoosh all the seeds away. This time of year is the very best time of the year and you should see shoots very quickly.

The good thing is that if it doesn't work the seeds aren't hugely expensive - but try again and I bet it will work. Good luck this time.

It could be any number of reasons:

Assuming there are no problems with the soil and the seed is not buried too deep then the main things that effects germination are water and temperature.

If it's unseasonably cold and wet, your seeds may rot before they have a chance to grow.

Bird might have eaten them.

With mixed seed packs, the plants will all have different germination times, anything from a couple of days to a couple of weeks. Patience is required.

Unless you are planting a large area I’d be inclined to sown seed indoors in separate biodegradeable pots. Paper ones are cheap and easy to make. Use biodegradeable ones as some wildflowers don’t like having their roots disturbed (poppies especially). You can just pop the plant in its paper pot in the ground and it will degrade naturally.

Even if you are planning a large area, a trial run in a few pots might be a good idea just to test that the seed is still viable. It’s generally recommended to store wildflower seeds in a cool, dry place, ideally in a refrigerator, to extend their viability. This helps prevent moisture from damaging the seeds and ensures they remain viable for longer periods. If seed is sold loose in a box or packet you won’t know how it’s been prepared, packed, transported and stored.

Hello OP, I love your inspiring thread.
Can I ask a quick question about the wildflower seeds ?
I planted some that I bought from Lidl a few years ago, nothing grew.
Ever! I believed it would be easy but was so disappointed.

Any tips ? I would like to give it another go

My garden is full of bees/ wasps/ hornets not sure which - this is strange considering most of the flowers have been eaten by rabbits and deer! Whenever I visit a garden centre I can't resist buying a couple more plants and then curse myself for just buying more food for the rabbits etc. I spray everything with so called animal repellant but nothing works.

Churchview

Good luck Susiewakie and everyone who's joining in with this. I've mown a path through our lawn today and left the rest. The blackbirds really seem to like the mown path. I can see two out there now hunting for worms.

I love this "path" idea, Churchview. I will do the same here. I have been gathering and planting lots of natives and foods for the birds and bees. Pretty soon they will think my place is their restaurant.

We leave our fairly small front lawn uncut unti September. I planted a load of wild flower seeds a few years ago and from April onwards it’s truly beautiful. The yellow cowslips and primroses are just coming to an end with large white daisys, poppies and some sort of purple flower taking over. Loads of bees and butterflies come all summer

Beautiful flowers Churchview.
I've bought some Mr Fothergills wild flower seeds from B&M. 3 packets for the price of 2.
I'm ready to sow them and hoping they grow.

Good luck Susiewakie and everyone who's joining in with this. I've mown a path through our lawn today and left the rest. The blackbirds really seem to like the mown path. I can see two out there now hunting for worms.

I've planted/ sowed wildflower seeds today in a raised corner planter hope they come up ! Never tried it before so fingers crossed .I got the for pollinators one

There's no way my hubby can go along with no mow May

I know several people who have a wilflower garden & let it grow for birds & insects. However when I tried it, council neighbours dumped rubbish on my private bit, & council told me to get it cleared & cut or they will come in & do it against my will & charge me for it, I can't win.

I have a small front grassed area, I wouldn't give it the credit of calling it a lawn. I've been doing no mow may for a few years, ans in 2023 a cowslip popped up. Last year there were two cowsips and this year three. There are also hundreds of daisies, some lovely bright dandelions and signs of a campion. I've only had the grass mowed once since last year and that was only a few weeks ago. So all this lovely wild flower garden for no effort or expense at all. I've just popped outside and spotted some creeping jenny showing through the grass too.

Allira

Su22

Would love to do this. I did sow some wild flower seeds a few years ago, but it wasn't very successful, just got a couple of poppies. Can anyone recommend the best seeds to buy?

Someone has just been to do weeding for us today. He's worked hard, done a good job but has also weeded out my Welsh poppies. I was planning to plant poppies, cornflowers and daisies in that small patch too, perhaps I'd better put a notice there - Do Not Weed Here!

The poppies are still there, flowers have gone, perhaps he thought they were past their best and dead headed them! 🙂

That's a good idea Churchview. I have a garden bed that I usually plant with annuals. I like to have some cut flowers for the house, but maybe this year I will look for a packet of mixed seeds. Something to benefit pollinators as well as my vases!

Nanna8, that is an orchid of some sort. Zebra orchid if google is correct. Lovely! We have several species of local orchids here, but I think they are all quite tiny.

It's been lovely to see the bumblebees out and about. Our garden now has blueberries blooming, and we have a lot of fritillaria in bloom. Our apple tree has a few buds just beginning to open.

Lovely photo. I let self sown seeds grow in the slate where I park my car. So far there’s Bluebells, ox eye daisies. Crainsbill geraniums, aquilegia, oriental and Welsh poppies, and hollyhocks. When they flower is fab.

The bottom third of my garden is given over to wildflowers. Half of tat area has what was originally wild flower turf and has perennial wildflowers - the other side is seeded each year.

Do be aware though that some management is needed. The whole are needs to be scythed/strimmed each year; and there is the problem of grass and thistles which tend to take over. I am not well enough to manage it now and am going with the flow on the takeover bid from the thistles. I live very rurally and it is a losing battle, so I am hoping they will look pretty at some point.

Sue22 I have used various brands of seed in the past all with good results. Normally I pick up a couple of packets at the supermarket and they always seem good. This year went to the garden centre where I found a huge range and some labelled 'for birds' or 'for pollinators'. They also did different colour ranges, packets for shady areas, woodland areas - all sorts. I like the blowsy, colourful mixes.

Oh no Allira what a shame. Welsh poppies are so beautiful too.

Su22

Would love to do this. I did sow some wild flower seeds a few years ago, but it wasn't very successful, just got a couple of poppies. Can anyone recommend the best seeds to buy?

Someone has just been to do weeding for us today. He's worked hard, done a good job but has also weeded out my Welsh poppies. I was planning to plant poppies, cornflowers and daisies in that small patch too, perhaps I'd better put a notice there - Do Not Weed Here!

Replying to Sue22 I had fantastic results some years ago from the environmental group called 38 Degrees. They were giving away free wildflower seeds and I think they still do. The important thing is that seeds are fresh and not from old packets. I’m sure most garden centres will have a good selection.

Would love to do this. I did sow some wild flower seeds a few years ago, but it wasn't very successful, just got a couple of poppies. Can anyone recommend the best seeds to buy?

Wow nanna8 that flower is fabulous. It made me think of the costumes in My Fair Lady. I have relatives in Tasmania who are very concerned about the lack of rain. I hope you get some soon.

It's so good to hear other people are planting for wildlife too.

Skydancer I'll post pictures of this year's wild flower patch as it develops in the hope others will do the same.

I am thrilled with this thread and am a big fan of wild meadows. I feel we all need to think what we can each do to make wild gardens popular . Classic green grass is not native and not beneficial in any way to our environment . . Bugs are in huge decline and I notice that
When we drive to France that here there are next to no bugs on the car here but in France you are soon covered . Without bugs there will be no birds /healthy crops . When I grew up there were large flocks of sparrows and other species that are so rare to see now . The sides of roads were often “ unkempt “ but full of beautiful wildflowers . Let’s all do our part not just in May but other months as well ! One year I was quite diligent in getting some wild flowers to grow and noticed immediately the difference in the butterflies and native moths that are so important !!!

I’m leaving our small front lawn. I may pop a few wildflower seeds in just to see what happens. Shall we all try to remember to post our photos in midsummer? Is anyone out there prepared to remind us? (My memory being shocking).