How to manage your wildflower meadow

How to manage your wildflower meadow

Wildflowers – you sow them, you grow them, they bloom and… what next? Our guide will help you manage your wildflower meadow get your wildflower meadow blooming.

The overwhelming excitement of seeing your wildflower meadow seeds grow can quickly be followed by wondering what to do next. Luckily for you, we’ve developed a wildflower growing guide to assist you on how to manage your wildflower meadow.

Your wildflower management will depend on when you sow your wildflower seeds. Wildflower seeds need to undergo stratification to germinate, i.e. a ‘freeze’. We keep our wildflower seeds in cold warehouse conditions all year round so they are ready to be sown at any time.

To achieve optimum results, there are two times in a year when you should ideally sow wildflower seed. April/May, or September/October.

To help with this, we have a guide on picking your wildflower mix and helpful advice on how to sow wildflower seeds in your garden.

I’ve sown my wildflower seed in April/May (Spring)

In August/September of the first year, you should sow your wildflower seed and cut your wildflower sward to 7cm after flowering. You can do this by putting your mower on a high setting. In most cases, remove clippings* (Note: a late spring sowing will result in late flowering). Do not be tempted to fertilise or add topsoil to this area. Wildflowers prefer poor soil conditions, and this is how they should stay. Continue this same process year after year.

*Remove the clippings if you have annual wildflowers in your mix and do not wish them to return the following year. If you want your wildflowers to return the following year, let them go to seedhead. You can then manually assist their self-seeding by firming the seed heads into the soil. By doing this, your annuals will return the following year.

I’ve sown my wildflower seed in September/October (Autumn)

In March/April of the first year of sowing your wildflower seed, ensure there is sufficient material to mow – your wildflowers/grasses should be at the height of 10cm. If your wildflowers are at this height, mow to 7cm no later than mid-April, as this will delay their blooming process. In August/September, after they bloomed, cut your wildflower meadow to 7cm, and remove all clippings unless you want your annuals to return.

If you wish for your annual wildflowers to make a reappearance the following spring, follow the process above by letting the seed heads drop into the soil and give them a helping hand by firming them into the soil.

Wildflowers are pretty remarkable and are low maintenance compared to most flowers you’ll find – but now and again, they need a little help to look their best. Don’t we all!

We hope this wildflower management guide has helped educate you on managing your wildflower meadow.

Follow our guide to creating your own wildflower garden here!