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I’m desperately trying to create a wild flower meadow or similar but I’m failing miserably.
My problem is the grass grows to fast and high and smothers any wild flowers I introduce, even the clover which was there in abundance has given up.
The above photo is the area I have put aside, it’s not easy to make out but it runs down the left side of the photo and across the back. It goes from full sun to deep shade.
The area floods a couple of times a year, with the flood water comes rich silt so the soil is relatively fertile.
The area used to have a wide selection of wild flowers (Lady’s smock, celandines, clover, ajuga) but all have disappeared since I left the grass to grow.
This photo shows the problem, the grass grows tall and then falls over and smothers anything underneath.
The deep and semi shaded areas are coming along well as there is not sufficient light for the grass to grow strongly.
I don’t want to have to resign myself to just having spring flowers and mowing throughout the summer, has anyone got any practical suggestion please?
Build it and they will come.
You have my sympathy Brenda H, wildlife gardening is very rewarding but it does have its drawbacks. I am lucky as the badgers confine themselves to the orchard and haven’t come into the garden.
Nearer the house I have problems with mice eating the crocus bulbs. Last year I made some little mesh cages which I filled with bulbs and soil before planting them, this seems to have foiled the mice.
What a great idea WF. I must remember that mesh cage brainwave. Thank you.
Good to see you back WF! I agree with Kezmo! It's great to see the snowdrops and crocuses like it! Really looking forward to seeing how everything else develops in your beautiful garden!
"All weeds are flowers, once you get to know them" (Eeyore)
My photos on Flickr
Rockwolf said: Good to see you back WF!
Good to see you back WF!
It seems my mesh cages were only semi successful, they protected the bulbs but not the flowers. I had a large patch of crocus buds waiting to open in my wood, yesterday I went to see if they had opened and all the heads had been chewed off. I can only think of mice but can’t understand why, it doesn’t look like any of the flower has been eaten. There are more crocus flowers coming up near by, I hope they escape.
The crocus growing in my wild flower meadow are sill OK so not all is lost.
Hi WF, So sorry about your crocus and the mice. I have heard that some birds will eat the buds of the yellow ( saffron) crocus, although I have never caught any birds doing so. Have you observed this and if so which birds ?
Unknown said: Hi WF, So sorry about your crocus and the mice. I have heard that some birds will eat the buds of the yellow ( saffron) crocus, although I have never caught any birds doing so. Have you observed this and if so which birds ?
They were all purple crocus. I didn't see who the culprit was, one day they were fine, the following day there were stalks and a pile of heads.
I’m itching to sow my wild flower seeds too Frog Prince. This winter seems to be going on forever. We have been at -6 for the last few nights and we're struggling to reach 3 of 4 during the day.
Hi Brenda, when I was little my Mum always maintained that the blackbirds took the heads off the yellow crocus. We have crocus, including yellow, in our front garden and they are, for the greater part, untouched by any animal life. We also have 5 resident blackbirds, one of whom spends much of each morning in the front garden in fine weather. However, he sits in the pyracantha bush so, with loads of berries for the taking just by stretching out his neck it is little wonder he doesn't bother with the crocus!
The necessity of bird-watching is a really good reason for avoiding all forms of housework.
The dust will still be there tomorrow - the birds may not be!
Thanks Squirrel. My Mum used to tell me the same and my OH still says it, so we don't have any yellow crocus!
I sowed my wild flower bed this morning. I opened all the packets and mixed them together before sowing them. £11 worth of seeds was enough to fill a thimble. I definitely am collecting seeds to sow in future years.
I hope the display and benefit to wildlife will be worth it.