Creating a Wild Flower Meadow  

Traditionally, wild flower meadows were hay meadows which were cut during the summer for hay and used for grazing over the winter.  They consisted of native rather than cultivated grasses with a large variety of other native flowering plants.  Their value lay in the diversity of their plant life which provided food and shelter for many different invertebrate species which in turn meant that there was an abundance of food for birds and mammals.  The plant species composition varied from area to area depending on geological, soil and climatic conditions. 

The wild grasses provide the basic architecture for the meadow.  Over the years, a thick mat of old, dead, fibrous foliage builds up and provides shelter in the winter for a great variety of invertebrates.  Grasses are also the larval food plant of many different meadow butterflies.  Some butterflies require a mixture of native grasses growing in the same area as caterpillars favour different species at different stages of their development.

We can create our own version of a wild flower meadow.  There are four main types of wild flower meadow depending on the mix of seeds sown:

• wild flower and grass meadow - similar to the traditional hay meadow with a mixture of native grasses and wild flowers

• wild flower only meadow - for a higher concentration of wild flowers leaving grasses to colonise naturally over time

• meadow grasses only 

• cornfield annual meadow - annual wild flowers only which will flower profusely in their first year

The first two types of meadow can be created by either clearing the site completely before sowing or converting an existing lawn.  The meadow grasses only and cornfield annual meadow will need to be sown onto a clear site.  

Preparing the Site:
Wild flower meadows prefer thin soils of low fertility.  If your soil is richly fertile, then it is probably best to choose a Cornfield Annual Mix rather than a Meadow Mix.

Wild flowers will not be able to compete well in areas of lush weed growth, so it is important to start out with a completely weed-free site.  This can be achieved by either digging out any existing plants or using a weedkiller such as glyphosate.  It may be necessary to repeat these activities over a period to ensure the area is clear.  The next step is to rake over the area to a fine tilth ready for the seeds.

If you decide to convert an existing lawn it is important that your lawn does not contain rye grass as this will compete too vigorously with your wild flowers.  Mow the existing grass down to 5cm, scarify the thatch and remove any clippings.  Small areas can be completely stripped of grass to improve establishment.  If converting an existing lawn, best results are achieved by planting plugs rather than seeding. 

Choosing Seed Mixes:
Choosing the correct meadow seed mix is important for the success of your project.  We supply a number of different meadow mixtures depending on whether you want wild flowers only, grasses only or a mixture of the two.  There are also mixes for specific soil types and for different locations.  There are more details of each of the mixes on the Wild Flower Seed Collections pages (wild flowers only) and the Meadow Mixtures pages (wild grasses and wild flower mixtures), but in summary:

Meadow Mixtures (Wild Flowers & Grasses):

     Traditional Old English Meadow Mixture 1 - a meadow mix with 4 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 11 species of wild flowers (20% by weight). Suitable across a variety of soil types.

     Traditional Old English Meadow Mixture 2 - a meadow mix with 4 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 15 species of wild flowers (20% by weight). Suitable across a variety of soil types.

     Mixture for Chalky Soils - a meadow mix which contains species found on lime-rich soils. It has 7 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 21 species of wild flower (20% by weight).

     Mixture for Clay Soils - a meadow mix which contains species adapted to growing on soils with a high clay content.  It has 8 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 16 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).

     Mixture for Wetlands - a meadow mix which contains species able to tolerate a fluctuating water table and periods of being waterlogged.  It has 7 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 17 species of wild flowers (80% by weight).  Most plants need to be well established to withstand winter flooding, so seeding needs to take place very early in autumn or better still, in spring.

     Mixture for Pond Edges - a meadow mix which contains species suitable for the marginal boggy zone found at the edges of ponds, ditches and streams. It has 7 species of wild grasses (80% by weight) and 17 species of wild flowers (20% by weight).

Wild Flower Only Seed Collections:

     Cornfield Annual Mixture - this mixture of annual wild flowers will give a colourful display in one growing season from an autumn or spring sowing. It will grow on most soil types and consists of 5 species of wild flowers. It can also be sown with meadow mixtures to give a good show of colour in the first year (cornfield 'nurse').

     Special Cornfield Annual Mixture - this mixture of annual wild flowers has the same uses as the Cornfield Annual Mixture above, but it contains a wider range of wild flower species some of which are now rare or declining in the wild in Britain. It will give a colourful display in one growing season from an autumn or spring sowing. It will grow on most soil types. It can also be sown with meadow mixtures give a good show of colour in the first year (cornfield 'nurse').

     Traditional Mixture - this mixture of 15 different species of wild flowers will give a colourful display  from an autumn or spring sowing. It consists of species from traditional meadows and will grow on most soil types.

     Mixture for Chalky Soils - this mixture of 21 different species of native wild flowers is suitable for planting on calcareous (lime-rich) soils.

     Mixture for Clay Soils - this mixture contains 16 different species of wild flowers adapted to growing on soils with a high clay content.  

     Mixture for Wetlands - this mixture contains 17 different species of wild flower able to tolerate a fluctuating water table and periods of being waterlogged. Most plants need to be well established to withstand winter flooding, so seeding needs to take place very early in autumn or better still, in spring.

     Mixture for Pond Edges - This mixture contains 17 species of wild flowers suitable for the marginal boggy zone found at the edges of ponds, ditches and streams. 

     Mixture for Hedgerows - this mixture contains 16 different species of wild flower able to tolerate semi-shade and is suitable for sowing beneath newly planted or established hedges and on woodland edges, rides and glades.

     Mixture for Woodlands - this mixture contains 17 species of wild flowers able to tolerate shade and is suitable for sowing in woodland areas.  The wild flowers are adapted to growing amongst established trees where shading has reduced light levels down to 25% of that in the open. 

Or you could make up your own mix and choose species which are traditionally from your locality - refer to the Postcode Plants Database for a list of native plants for your specific postcode. Look at our latest        Catalogue of Wild Flower Seeds.  If you have a large project and you require larger quantities, please email for a price enquiries@wildflowershop.co.uk.

Sowing Seeds & Planting Plugs:
Sow the seeds as evenly as possible using the quantities in the section below as a guideline.  Roll or tread in the seeds to ensure good contact between the soil and the seeds.  Ensure that the seeds don't dry out by watering as necessary.

The seeds can be sown in the autumn (August to October) or Spring (February to May). However, on heavy clay soils it is be best to sow in spring as water-logging may cause some seed/seedlings to rot during the winter.

There are a few seeds which will benefit from  stratification (periods of alternating warmth and cold).  This will occur naturally if the seeds are planted in the autumn and left over winter.

If converting an existing lawn, success is improved by reducing immediate competition while the wild flower establishes itself by raking Yellow Rattle seed (Rhinanthus minor) into the grass.  This is semi-parasitic on the roots of plants, especially grasses, and once established will reduce the vigour of the original grass by up to 50%.  All ancient meadows have this plant.  Yellow Rattle needs a period of cold to germinate successfully, so is best sown between August and December.  Yellow Rattle is an annual and so once established, it is best to cut the meadow after the rattle has had a chance to seed ie after the end of July.

Planting small groups of wild flower plug plants into the site after the seed has been sown or into an existing lawn once it has been prepared as above, will improve establishment.  Look at our Catalogue of Wild Flower Plug Plants.  If you have a large project and you require larger quantities, please email for a price enquiries@wildflowershop.co.uk.

Sowing Rates for Seeds:
Sow the seeds as evenly as possible using the following quantities as a guideline:

     meadow mixes - 4g per square metre  (may use less if sowing into existing grass, but add Yellow Rattle at 0.5 to 1g per square metre)

     wild flower only mixes - from 1.5g per square metre depending on the density of flowering required (if sown into existing grass add Yellow Rattle at 0.5 to 1g per square metre as well- most of my wild flower mixes include yellow rattle)

     meadow grass only mixes - 5g per square metre

     cornfield annual mix and special cornfield annual mix - between 2g and 5g per square metre depending on the density of flowering required (1g if sown with a meadow mix)

First Year Maintenance:
For most meadows, you probably won't see a huge display of flowers in the first year unless you have added a companion cornfield annual mix (cornfield 'nurse') to your meadow mix.  A number of authorities (including the RHS) advise mowing each time the meadow reaches 10-15cm in height to get rid of annual weeds before they have a chance to set seed.  However, that would be pointless if you have added a companion cornfield annual mix!  In this case, it would be best to remove any obnoxious weeds by hand and hold back on the first mowing until after the cornfield annuals have had a chance to seed themselves.  It is important to remove all clippings following mowing to prevent them enhancing soil fertility and blocking the light from the growing seedlings. 

If you have planted a meadow of just cornfield annuals, it may take time for the wild flower seed bank to build up.  This can be achieved either by allowing the seeds to fall naturally or by collecting the seeds and sowing them in autumn/spring.  If you collect the seed, dry it on absorbent paper and store in a cool dry place until you are ready to sow it.  You can also speed up the establishment of the seed bank by purchasing and sowing additional seeds in the first couple of years. 

Second Year Plus Maintenance:
Your wild flower meadow should provide a good display of flowers from the second year onwards.  If any obnoxious weeds appear, remove them by hand.  If the varieties of seed you have planted are for a spring meadow, mow late June/early July and then again in September/October.  If the seed varieties you have planted are for a summer meadow (or mixed seasons), mow in September/October.  Always remove all clippings after mowing.