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Perennial wildflower garden

CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
in Problem solving
In July (a bit late in the year) I sowed a perennial wildflower/grass patch with seeds suitable for clay/heavy soil.  The area is difficult being at the bottom of a long sloping garden and often waterlogged.  It had been cleared of weeds for some weeks and the plants are now growing quite well.  I notice on the seed info that dandelion is one of the many plants included which surprised me a bit and, sure enough, I can see some coming up but, OK, it's a wild perennial and looks good in the spring.  It did make make me wonder, though, if those perennials which are usually regarded as pesky weeds will eventually seed themselves and become a nuisance round the rest of the garden, if not in the patch itself if they're very prolific, as dandelions tend to be.  Could anyone experienced in this kind of wildflower area please advise?

Posts

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    They are very helpful to early bumble bees and personally I find them cheering too and often leave one or two to flower.  The young leaves are nice added to salads too. I just deadhead them to prevent a huge invasion, but they aren't a real problem here as the garden is full of weeds/wildflowers for the benefit of wildlife,  I grow many wildflowers  among my other garden plants, because I like the effect, so a dandelion here or there is not an issue. :)
    More contentious if you are trying to achieve success with both wildflowers and a more formal or traditional look, but it helps a bit to have as little bare soil as possible, so it's harder for them to get established.
  • CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
    Thank you - that's helpful!  Fortunately we don't have any formal beds - it's all informal and natural so it sounds as if I'll cope and dandelions aren't that hard to remove, after all.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Certain things like nettles and docks I remove.  If that creates a patch I transplant something like foxglove into it.
  • CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
    Good idea, thanks!
  • josusa47josusa47 Posts: 3,530
    You can leave the dandelion flowers during the day, for the pollinators to feed, then go out after your evening meal, by which time the pollinators are tucked up in bed, and pick off the flowers so they don't set seed.  There will probably be new ones opened by morning.
  • CazzieTCazzieT Posts: 74
    Hmm...I think life might be too short for that!
  • Calbr21Calbr21 Posts: 1
    I have a new flower opening in my perennial wildflower forest. Does anyone know what this one is called?  I am new on here and thought it may be good to ask on this thread?
  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    A zinnia. 
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
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