GOING WILD

By Rachael Leverton

Wildflowers are a great addition to any garden, as they can add texture, variety, and interest. Not only are they beautiful, but they also have many environmental benefits.

They attract pollinators: Wildflowers attract bees, butterflies, and other pollinators to your garden. These pollinators play a vital role in the garden ecosystem by pollinating crops, fruits, and vegetables.

Biodiversity: All these pollinators promote biodiversity by providing habitat and food for a variety of other insects, birds and animals.

They improve soil health: When they die off, wildflowers can be dug into the soil to promote better structure and add organic matter. They can also help prevent erosion by wind and rain.

In addition, wildflowers are low-maintenance, this is very important if you have a busy job with little time to garden, but still want a pretty outdoor space.

For best results select an area with plenty of sunlight. Find a spot that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight each day.

You can introduce wildflowers in a range of areas from a section of your garden, to raised beds, window boxes to plant pots.

Wildflowers prefer well-drained soil, so if your garden soil is heavy clay or you may need to improve the structure by digging in grit and organic matter.

There are so many different varieties of wildflowers. You can customise the colours to your personal taste. Look on the seed packets and consider the bloom time, colour, and height of the flowers. Avoid invasive species or plants that may not be appropriate for your garden.

Remove any existing grass or weeds from your chosen area and loosen the soil with a garden fork. Rake it over to create a smooth flat surface, and then lightly compact the soil with a roller or your feet.

Most colorful wildflowers include:

· Cornflowers

· Corn marigolds

Field poppies

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Ox-eye daisies

Red campion

Scarlet pimpernel

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When it comes to sowing you can either broadcast the seeds over the entire planting area or plant them in rows. Seeing the area you’ve already covered is easier if you mix the seeds with sand or vermiculite before sowing. Once you have sown the seeds, gently rake the surface to cover them with a thin layer of soil. Water the area thoroughly to help the seeds settle into the soil. Keep the soil moist until the seeds germinate, which should take 1 to 3 weeks depending on the varieties of wildflowers you’ve selected. Once the seeds have sprouted, water as required and pull out any weeds that pop up.

I absolutely love wildflowers. There is something wonderfully spontaneous about them, and the best thing about them is that anyone, keen gardener or total beginner can enjoy them.

Best wildflowers for bees include:

· Bee balm

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Borage

Clover

Lavender

Milkweed

Yarrow

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Some of the wildflowers that improve soil health include:

Clover

Dandelions

Plantain

Wild thyme

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