Wildflower Meadows: What Could Possibly Go Wrong?

We sell a fair amount of seed for wildflower meadows. You might say wildflower meadows are a bit of an obsession, in fact. We do everything we can to make sure they're going to work for our clients. We know where the seed has come from, we do random germination tests, we know how old it is and how it has been stored. We post guides and videos about how to make wildflower meadows. Things still seem to go wrong though... here are the three biggest bloopers folk commit. 1. What Is Your Seed and What Will It Do? Do you know what you want to create and will the seed mix you buy give you that? Do you know what a "traditional" hay meadow will look like? Is that what you want? IF yes then remember... good things come to those who wait. Wait until you've done your prep. Wait until the right window to sow. Most importantly, wait for your meadow flowers to develop. They are s l o w growing perennials, which won't flower in year one. Many might not in year two. Take pleasure in watching it develop. This hints at the next question... 2. Would You Sow Carrot Seed Onto Your Lawn? No no and thrice no! And wildflower seed is often equally small and much more slow growing. Don't chuck it on an existing pasture or lawn. If soil fertility is anything but LOW and there are any aggressive grasses about (which there almost certainly will be), your wildflower seed will end up being a waste of £££. There are exceptions to this*, but this is true of well over 90% of the sites we deal with. Clear a little space to seed wildflowers and the grasses will take it over. Create a little strip to seed wildflowers and the grasses will take it over. Scarify some of the grass off to seed wildflowers and the grasses will take over. You get the picture. 3. Be Brutal There are some plants you don't want in your meadow. Thistles have great biodiversity value but get everywhere. Dock looks like Sorrel, but is much less retiring. Nettles are great food plants for caterpillars but a curse in wildflower meadows. No thanks; all these need to go, and BEFORE they have any chance of setting seed. Don't leave those thistles flowering because they're a great food source for bees. Have them out, unless you want a thistle plantation. Cut the grass before September. Please, please don't wait until the last Knapweed has finished flowering. The grass will collapse before then and be virtually uncuttable. If you don't cut it promptly and over the winter I guarantee you will soon be looking at a field full of grass, not a wildflower in sight. And that would be a great shame. If all this is too worrying and you are to horticulture what I am to blacksmithing, just get us to do the whole thing for you. *I can hear you thinking you might be one. If you think you might, get in touch. I'd be interested to hear from you and we can cook up a strategy for your site.