Creating a wildflower meadow at home

Seed storage

seed should be stored in the original sealed packets in a dry, dark, cool place, until use.

choose the area carefully, if shaded the seed will not germinate
remove surface debris, vegetation and stones - remove the top layer of the area (with a spade/turf remover)7cm or > 5cm if the soil is very stony, or lay a plastic sheet over the area for at least three weeks
the soil should be worked when it is moist but not waterlogged
once the vegetation, debris or stones have been removed, rotavate the area, to a fine tilth
fertilisers should only be added if a soil analysis indicates the necessity to do so and then added when the soil is being worked to ensure an even distribution. Decayed organic matter is recommended as a soil conditioner
you are now ready to sow your seed.

spring sowing: April, May, June.(All mixes). For Poppy from February for vernalisation purposes
autumn sowing: Mid-August - September, (U.K. North).

sowing should be done in the right weather conditions, (no wind, low soil humidity...)
sow at 3 g/m², unless otherwise stated, mixing the seed with dry sand (ratio 1 : 10 or more) or as 100% seed through a spreader that can be finely adjusted. Up to 5 g/m2 on slopes
if possible sow twice, at 90°, in half doses to obtain a homogeneous seed cover
raking is optional but the seed should not be covered with more than 3mm of topsoil
if needed water thoroughly.

germination is temperature dependant and may take up to 3 weeks for all the species to germinate
the soil should not be allowed to dry out during this period in the top 2.4 cm
seeds will start flowering after 50 - 60 days.

punctual watering may be required at any stage of the plants' growth if the soil becomes dry, particularly on slopes, sandy and shallow soils
the roots should always have access to soil humidity. Programmed irrigation should be turned off
over seeding may be required if the seed bed preparation has not been carried out properly; it should be done manually in the areas concerned by lightly raking, hand seeding and compacting by foot
some weed species add to the biodiversity and do not need to be removed unless they are allergens or toxic
undesirable plants should be hand weeded before they drop fertile seed. Check regularly
if pioneer weed species dominate after sowing, cut down the sward to 5 - 6 cm
end of year maintenance consists of cutting the plants down to 10 cm at the end of the flowering period (usually after the first hard frosts)
annual meadows - organic matter will be absorbed into the soil during the winter months, alternatively, the removal of green waste may be done for aesthetic reasons
perennial meadows - avoid the cut vegetation lying in thick mats for long periods.