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I thought it my be interesting to have a thread showing our gardens and the way they change throughout the year. Here's mine looking a bit of a mess at the moment -
I di leave most of it uncut over winter to give the insects more places to spend the winter - well thats my excuse - I was probably just being lazy.
Best wishes
Stoat
I'm not bald. I've just got ingrowing hair!
I'm no expert but I've heard sowing yellow rattle can help as this parisitises grass (amongst other things) and weakens it allowing other things to grow without being overwhelmed by the grass.
It may be alright anyway as a lot of wildflowers are annuals and won't grow till spring.
There is also a company that sells presown wildflower turf which might be an option too.
higgy50 said:Yes I planted a load of wild flower seeds back last autumn but only seem to have lots of lovely thick green grass at the moment so not sure whether to leave it, reseed it or just add some more seed to what's already there. Any ideas?
Wild flower meadows are really, really tricky to get established - you need poor soil for starters, that means always picking up your grass clippings to keep the nitrates down, meadows should be mowed only twice a year, once about nowish (but check that online) and again after seeds have set and ripened in autumn, so they scatter themselves about. If you have wildflower seeds left, I'd plant them in plugs, in seed compost as that's poor in nutrients,get them established with a good root system then plant them out. Another alternative is to take the grass up and lay turf you can buy that is already seeded with wildflowers - but that's a very expensive way of going about things:-( I suppose it's possible to buy a strip, put it in the centre of your proposed area and then keep at the rest of it, mowing, picking up the clippings, so that it's poor and with luck the central strip will spread its seeds about in autumn - but I'm not at all sure how well that would work. They key is incredible patience and getting the site as poor as you can in nutrients. The yellow rattle idea is a good one, if you can get it to 'go'.
Kezsmum said: Yes I planted a load of wild flower seeds back last autumn but only seem to have lots of lovely thick green grass at the moment so not sure whether to leave it, reseed it or just add some more seed to what's already there. Any ideas? Wild flower meadows are really, really tricky to get established - you need poor soil for starters, that means always picking up your grass clippings to keep the nitrates down, meadows should be mowed only twice a year, once about nowish (but check that online) and again after seeds have set and ripened in autumn, so they scatter themselves about. If you have wildflower seeds left, I'd plant them in plugs, in seed compost as that's poor in nutrients,get them established with a good root system then plant them out. Another alternative is to take the grass up and lay turf you can buy that is already seeded with wildflowers - but that's a very expensive way of going about things:-( I suppose it's possible to buy a strip, put it in the centre of your proposed area and then keep at the rest of it, mowing, picking up the clippings, so that it's poor and with luck the central strip will spread its seeds about in autumn - but I'm not at all sure how well that would work. They key is incredible patience and getting the site as poor as you can in nutrients. The yellow rattle idea is a good one, if you can get it to 'go'. [/quote] Thanks for that it gives me a bit to think about. My soil will be poor as the garden was neglected for several years prior to me moving in and I have only mowed the lawn and always pick up the cuttings. The areas which I planted were just left as uncut long grass before I prepared it and sowed the seeds so I think I should be ok on that count? I will however look at the yellow rattle which might help to break the grass down a bit... Thank you very much Stoat and Kezsmum for the advice.
Yes I planted a load of wild flower seeds back last autumn but only seem to have lots of lovely thick green grass at the moment so not sure whether to leave it, reseed it or just add some more seed to what's already there. Any ideas?
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Thanks for that it gives me a bit to think about. My soil will be poor as the garden was neglected for several years prior to me moving in and I have only mowed the lawn and always pick up the cuttings. The areas which I planted were just left as uncut long grass before I prepared it and sowed the seeds so I think I should be ok on that count? I will however look at the yellow rattle which might help to break the grass down a bit...
Thank you very much Stoat and Kezsmum for the advice.
Do you get many nettles? We've got loads! Apparently thats a sign of nitrogen rich soil which ain't good for wildflowers. Which also makes me wonder why they put clover in the wildflower mixes as they put nitrogen into the soil. Good for bumble bees so I guess thats why but does it help a wild flower lawn in the long run?
Managed to get the raised bed built today with a bit of help from Charlie who kept knicking the screwdriver and trying to put the screws in himself.
I dug up and replanted two primroses from the lawn too. Just waiting for the top soil to be delivered.
Unknown said: Do you get many nettles? We've got loads! Apparently thats a sign of nitrogen rich soil which ain't good for wildflowers. Which also makes me wonder why they put clover in the wildflower mixes as they put nitrogen into the soil. Good for bumble bees so I guess thats why but does it help a wild flower lawn in the long run?
Hi Stoat,
No I didn't no that and yes I do get a few nettles!!
It will be interesting to see what comes up in my wildflower patch then! I have just been going through my packets of seeds and I have a couple of packets of cowslips, Fritiliries, cornflower amongst others so I am thinking that I may now sow these in pots and then plant them out when they are plugs? The problem I have is that I don't yet have a greenhouse so am wondering if I could get away with building a couple of cold frames and bringing them on that way?
Good to see you raised beds are coming along, here are my two so far...
As they are near the wildlife area I think that i will paint then green to blend them in a bit as they are a bit intrusive at the moment and also made from different 'recycled' wood!.....Got to fill em up now also!!
higgy50 said: yes I do get a few nettles!!
higgy50 said: No I didn't no that and yes I do get a few nettles!! It will be interesting to see what comes up in my wildflower patch then! I have just been going through my packets of seeds and I have a couple of packets of cowslips, Fritiliries, cornflower amongst others so I am thinking that I may now sow these in pots and then plant them out when they are plugs? The problem I have is that I don't yet have a greenhouse so am wondering if I could get away with building a couple of cold frames and bringing them on that way? Good to see you raised beds are coming along, here are my two so far... As they are near the wildlife area I think that i will paint then green to blend them in a bit as they are a bit intrusive at the moment and also made from different 'recycled' wood!.....Got to fill em up now also!!
This is a great thread, especially at this time of year when gardens are not at their most appealing. Well ours isn't anyway. Lots of dark brown and dark green. I am so looking forward to some colour coming back.
Horrid day here in Oxfordshire, but my OH is out there, He spends most weekends outside - makes a change from the office he says. I admit I am a fairweather gardener, but when the weather is fair - I am out there! I describe myself as a jobbing gardener; I cut all the grass, clear beds and paths, do the edges and weed. Constantly! And I do the pots for winter colour to cheer myself up.
But there is hope. The snowdrops are out and there are buds to be seen. Just need a bit more sun......then the lawn mowing season will begin.................
December 21st is a great day - the sun starts to come back to us and spring is in the air!
Don't worry, the way I garden there will always be space for some (lots of) nettles! I purposely let some grow last year but they were getting a bit too tall and showing above the fence so I cut the tops off. Unfortunately they toppled into my neighbours garden which they weren't too impressed with!
My topsoil was delivered today and the worries I had about getting it off the lorry onto our drive being difficult due to the slope were unfounded and the delivery man even managed to get it through the gate for me. Planting will start at the weekend!
Higgy, those raised beds put mine to shame!