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You are now in:>>wildflower meadow
Our Flowermeadow is a mixture of 19 carefully selected annual and perennial flowers and herbs and a special low growing, non agressive grass. Annual varieties (10%) have been added to give colour to the meadow in year one, when the slower developing perennials are not established. In year 2 the perennials (flowers and herbs) will take over and will offer a different colour schedule while the annuals will only partly repeat themselves. Depending on climate, soil and situation the flowermeadow will develop differently. Over the years some flowers and herbs will grow stronger while others will become less obvious or will disappear.
The flowermeadow will change its appearance over the years, depending on soil type, temperatures, annual rainfall etc. etc. - as in any other meadow.
SOIL and SOIL PREPARATION: Most flowers and herbs grow best in poor soils. - Bare soil should be cultivated (harrowed/rotivated) to ensure that the young seeds can root easily. Where weeds or grass dominate the ground should be ploughed in autumn and soil cultivation should take place in spring before sowing the flowermeadow. Do not apply any fertiliser.
It is important to remove potentially competing weeds (e.g. dock weed, nettles, etc.) before sowing. If weeds germinate later they should be removed as soon as possible, preferably by hand.
 SOWING TIME: Sowing should be carried out either
from March to May (beware of late frosts!) or from
October to November. Spring sowings usually result in
a flower display of the annuals during late summer..
The perennials will show flowers in the following year.
Autumn sowings need to be done as late as possible. If
sown too early the seeds will germinate immediately but
the young plants will not survive frost.
With late sowings the seeds will stay in the ground and only start
germinating in the following spring, when the soil temperature rises with the season. This usually results in an early summer display of flowers from the annuals with the perennials to follow next year.
SOWING RATE: Sow at a rate of 0.5kg/400m² (5kg/acre). DO NOT SOW HIGHER RATES OR THE STRONGER VARIETIES WILL SMOTHER THE WEAKER VARIETIES. Sow very shallow and barely cover with soil. To achieve an even seed distribution mix the required seed amount with some dry sand, divide seed/sand mix into two parts. Scatter one part of the seed while walking over the area from North to South, scatter the second part of the mix while walking from East to West.
IMPORTANT: No fertiliser is required. Keep the freshly sown area moist all the time until the seedlings have developed their first true leaves (4 - 6 weeks). Do not soak with water.
MAINTENANCE: In the first (sowing) year the meadow should be cut - ideally with a scythe or cutterbar mower - in September. In all following years the first cut should be in August/September - after the flowers have shed their seeds. The meadow should be cut about 2“ (5cm) high. The grass cuttings should dry on the meadow to allow remaining seeds to fall on to the ground. After some days carefully remove the dried foliage from the meadow. A second cut should be considered in October/November to avoid the flowermeadow growing too high over winter.
During the flowering period the meadow should not be used because flowers will not recover when compacted by walking. During the rest of the year the use of the flower meadow should be limited.
FLOWER MEADOW CONTENTS:
FLOWERS: Achillea millefolium (white Yarrow, P), Agastache foeniculum (P), Calendula officinalis (Marygold, A), Centaurea cyanus (Cornflower, A), Cerastium biebersteinii (Snow in summer, P), Cheiranthus allionii (Wallflower, B/P), Chrysanthemum coronarium (A), Cosmos Bipinnalus (Cosmea, A), Cynoglossum arnabile (A/B), Eschschoizia (TP), Gypsophila elegans (Gipsy annual Baby Breath, A), Helianthus annuus (Sunflower, A), Lathyrus latifolius (Sweet Pea, P), Linum perenne lewisii (Flax, P), Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot, P), Oenothera lamarckiana (Evening Primrose, B/P), Rudbeckia amplexicaulis (A), Rudbeckia hirta (Black eyed Susan, A/B/P).
(key: A = Annual, B=Biennial, P=Perennial, TP= Tender Perennial)
GRASS: Sheeps Fescue (Festuca Ovina) or Hardy Fescue (Festuca Ovina duriu)
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