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Wildflower meadow not growing!

Jenny Brooke and John RookJenny Brooke and John Rook Posts: 2
in Talkback

Hi, We sowed wildflowers loads of them in two beds this year. The first three years we did this they were wonderful , but last year and this year there is absolutely nothing germinated. What have we done wrong?

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Posts

  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,616

    Is it an annual wildflower mix?

    Did you buy the seed or save it from previous years?

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    Hi, Has the grass taken over? Is there any yellow rattle growing? image
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    Are you there Jenny and John.

    There are quite a few wild flower growers on the forum, all we need is to know what sort of meadow (grass/cornfield/other) you want and what and when you sowed



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    I hope if the bees are in the flowers won't take 3 years Edd.image

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • Victoria SpongeVictoria Sponge Posts: 3,502
    What effect could a large amount of introduced bees have on the local ones, Edd, if any?



    I know bees use different flowers because of their tongue length but I've often wondered about this...



    Sorry OP for butting in - I'll disappear when you come back image
    Wearside, England.
  • MarineliliumMarinelilium Posts: 213
    Did you scarify the meadow after the second year? Disturbing the soil gets some of the seeds below the soil where they will wait until really chilled (stratification) kicks off their germination process. Can take several years of work. Meadows take time and more effort than you think.



    Grass meadows, as opposed to flower meadows, do create an amazing habitat for Ringlets, Gatekeepers, Meadow Browns, cinnabar moths etc. I have pics of mauve, pink and cream grasses just alive with butterflies but no pics are posting today

    image
  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    I reckon a big problem for those trying to establish wildflowers is not appreciating the difference between an annual wild flower mix and a perennial grass meadow or other type of planting



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,131
    Marinelilium - please may we see the pics tomorrow - hopefully things will be back to normal then image

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • nutcutletnutcutlet Posts: 27,444

    The only thing that doesn't work for me at the moment is 'quote'

    image

     



    In the sticks near Peterborough
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,131
    That looks lovely Nut image

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





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