PLANT A WILDFLOWER MEADOW THIS YEAR

WEEKEND WONDER Plant a wildf lower MEADOW

You don’t need a huge garden to enjoy the romance of a wildlife-rich meadow. All you need is a sunny patch in the garden no matter the size

There’s nothing quite as lovely as a summer meadow – so it’s no wonder that meadow-style planting in domestic gardens has enjoyed a surge in popularity in recent years. Thankfully, you don’t need acres of ground to grow native wildflowers – you can create a mini-meadow in a patch as small as 1sq m.

For a successful meadow there are a couple of things to consider. Firstly, aim for diversity.

Even in a tiny meadow you can attract a surprising number of different insects – the secret is to choose a mix with a large number of flowering plants. A ratio of around 80:20 grass to wildflowers is normal, but some mixes feature more blooms.

Knowing when and how to cut it back is also important.

If your meadow is annual, lift plants and compost them, then dig the ground over.

Never dig a perennial meadow – it is a permanent grassland and should be treated like a lawn. Cut back after flowering, leave the flowerheads and grass on the ground for a few days to shed their seed, then rake up. Mow the site until the first frosts.

Step by step

1Choose your site – a sunny spot on level ground is ideal. Strip off the turf and put it on your compost heap, or use it to repair gaps in the lawn.

2Remove weeds as soon as they appear – perennial weeds will soon overwhelm your wildflowers.

3Rake over the soil to create a crumb-like finish that’s perfect for sowing.

4Plant any plugs, and then evenly sprinkle over the seed. If seed is very fine, mix it with fine sand for ease of sowing. Water in with a fine spray.

5Cover your patch of meadow with netting to prevent birds from feasting on the seeds, then watch and wait for the beauty to unfold! 1 3