Not only are wildflowers pretty to look at, they are extremely important for our native wildlife, providing hunting and feeding grounds for many insects, mammals and birds.
In fact, they have evolved together and many species are inter-dependent for their survival. Here’s some advice to create and maintain flowering lawns and pots.
When to plant
Wildflower meadows fall into two broad camps: those that flower in summer (July–August) and those that flower in spring (February–May). Unfortunately, you can’t have both in the same area because they require different mowing regimes. They can however, be grown in different parts of the garden or in different pots. In addition, you can plant an annual or perennial mix.
Remember that wildflowers can also be grown in flower borders if you do not have a lawn. They can also be sown in hanging baskets or window boxes.
If you’re planting in the spring, try:
| Dropwort | Grape hyacinth | Red campion |
| Oxlip | Foxglove | Primrose |
| Cowslip | Ribwort plantain | Black medick |
| Hoary plantain | Selfheal | Wild daffodil |
| Bluebell | Sweet cicily | Meadow buttercup |
| Ox-eye-daisy | Cow parsley |
Or if you’re planting in the summer, give these a go:
| Autumn hawbit | Feverfew | Meadowset |
| Teasel | Betany | Field scabious |
| Musk mallow | Toadflax | Foxglove |
| Bird’s-foot trefoil | Tufted vetch | Bladder campion |
| Goatsbeard Pignut | Scentless mayweed | Ox-eye-daisy |
| White campion | Wild carrot | Common agrimony |
| Greater kanpweed | Purple loosestrife | Red clover |
| Red campion | Perforate St John's Wort | Ribwort plantain |
| Yarrow | Harebell | Yellow rattle |
| Common mallow | Hoary plantain | Devil's-bit scabious |
| Vioer's bugloss | Kidney vetch | Salad burnet |
| Lady's bedstraw | Nettle leaved bell flower | Dropwort |
| Dryers greenweed | Selfheal | Lesser knapweed |
| Meadow cranesbill | Small scabious |
Where to grow
If you have a patch of lawn in an open, sunny site, you can transform it into a wildflower meadow. Apart from providing cover and food for wildlife, it requires far less maintenance than a traditional lawn and can be planted with a wide range of wildflowers to provide interest from spring until the end of summer.
What to do
Prepare your lawn! Lawns that are naturally low in fertility are ideal, but if yours isn't, there are ways that you can bring the nutrient levels down and prevent vigorous grasses from taking over. Stop using fertilisers and weed killers, and mow the lawn regularly, keeping the grass very short.
Remove all clippings to prevent nutrients being returned to the soil. You may need to keep this up for two years until it's ready to be planted with wildflowers.
How to plant
The wildflowers you use largely depend on your soil conditions, personal preference, and if you have a colour scheme in mind. Wildflowers will establish best if planted in the autumn as small plug plants.
For a natural look, arrange these in groups across the lawn and take out a core of soil using a trowel. Make holes about 15cm (6in) deep and 5cm (1.9in) in diameter. Drop a handful of compost into the bottom of the hole to help plugs establish quickly. Water and spread leaf mould around each plug to help it grow without competition.
Aftercare
Cut the grass at the end of summer after most of the wildflowers have had a chance to set seed. If you only have a small meadow, use a strimmer (make sure to wear protective clothing, such as goggles, ear protectors, stout boots and gloves) or a scythe.
Larger areas can be cut with a power scythe, aiming to leave grass no taller than about 1cm (1/3 in) and make sure to cut again in spring.
After removing grass, rake up all debris to prevent nutrients from being returned to the soil.
Have you pledged to plant wildflowers yet?
Download our 'how to' guide below.
Downloads
| Filename | File size |
|---|---|
| gardening_bilingual.pdf | 3.69 MB |