A More Exciting Alternative to a Traditional Garden - Wild Flowers
Are you tired of the dull look of your lawn or traditional garden? If you are, then you should shift to a wildflower meadow. A wildflower meadow is said to be more colorful and provide more interesting textures. Some even refer to it as dynamic, because it does not just exude beauty but also provide ecological benefits like the creation of habitat for insects and butterflies. It is also noted for its low maintenance as compared to traditional vegetable or flower garden. However, a wildflower meadow takes a bit longer to establish and for you to see the vibrant result. So, how would you start creating a wildflower meadow from scratch?
First, you need to prepare the ground. Take note that good ground preparation is very important because the growth of your wildflower seeds will greatly depend on it. One secret to a good ground preparation is a low fertility soil. Why is this so? It is simply because a fertile soil can accommodate vigorous growth of some grasses and weeds which are not good for your wildflower seed. To reduce soil fertility, you need to strip off the top 5 to 10 cm of topsoil. After which, you have to rake and roll the soil lightly in order to prepare the seed bed.
After ground preparation, you can proceed to sowing the seed. If you want to expect the best results for new garden, you should sow your wildflower seed in early autumn. Although you can sow in any month, the best time would be the cold winter month so that it would be easy to break the seed's built-in dormancy. If you decide to sow in spring, you can expect the seed to germinate longer. After sowing, rake the soil lightly, but make sure not to cover the seed completely.
Once the seeds are planted, you now have to take the important steps in taking care and looking after your new wildflower meadow. After some time, the seeds will germinate, and grasses will grow and reach a height up to 10 cm. As soon as you notice this, you need to cut your meadow. This step will reduce those unwanted weeds which will hinder the growth of your wildflower. Some of these weeds that you should look out for are the chickweed and the groundsel.
If you see docks and thistles, you should also remove them. Keep in mind that cutting your meadow should be done every 6 to 8 weeks in the first year. Do not forget that it is best to cut it once in autumn and another in early spring. After doing so, remove the cuttings to avoid buildup of dead plant material and prevent unwanted scrub and brambles to take over. This will also help a lot in establishing your wildflower meadow plants.
These are the helpful steps that you need to do in order to convert that dull lawn or traditional garden into a more exciting and vibrant wildflower meadow. It would be more fun if you let your children, partner, or friend to help you in the process. Although the result may take a bit longer, everything will be worth the wait once you see your wildflowers starting to bloom.
