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Wildflower Meadow Query

joannelowe12joannelowe12 Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Last year, removed turf and planted some wildflower seed - front garden was full of poppies, cornflowers, oxe-eye daisies and some other bits. I removed all growth when it died back and tried to shake all of the seed heads over the area where I wanted them to appear again this year. Left it over winter but all that has come up this year is clover with 1 solitary poppy. I have left it alone (as the bees seem to love it) and I am happy to put wildlife in front of my own needs but it looks a bit messy and a bit boring - is there any way to get the flowers to return? 

Posts

  • bertrand-mabelbertrand-mabel Posts: 2,697
    When you cut back a wildflower area you should leave the cuttings for a couple of days to allow the seeds to fall and then rake the cut parts up so that the nitrogen isn't going back into the soil.
    With the poppy let it seed and collect some of it and allow the rest to disperse naturally. Next year then scatter the seeds over the area (poppies germinate in open soil that has been disturbed).
    Trying to recreate now will be that much harder but if you can find any wildflower seed packets you could germinate them and plant them out.
    Don't give up. The wildlife will thank you for your efforts.
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