HOW TO BUY

meadow

advice

notes

CHOOSING SEED

SITE PREPARATION

& SOWING

MEADOW

MANAGEMENT

MANAGING

WILDFLOWER-ONLY

MIXES

COMMON

QUESTIONS

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Choose Your Site
Results are better on sites with low fertility, as a wider range of wildflower species will
establish without grasses or more competitive broadleaved species taking over.
Fertile sites, such as former arable fields, will only support a limited number of the most
competitive species of wildflowers however any fertile site can be improved with some
effort. In most cases, cutting (and removal of the cuttings) over one or two years is effective.

Choosing a Mixture of Wildflowers
Most soils in Scotland which can be cultivated are near neutral or slightly acid and our
mixtures reflect this. Our meadow mixes contain grass species and wildflowers in
proportions which will give a balanced establishment of the different species.
For well-drained, loamy soils in open sites, Mavisbank Mix provides a range of species to
establish a type of grassland which is widespread in Scotland.
For wet soils , in open sites, including soils which are occasionally flooded or waterlogged
for short periods, the Wet Meadow Mix has a colourful range of species.
For marshy conditions or water margins , the Pond Edge Mix contains wildflower species
only, with no grass.
Sandy and calcareous sites support a quite different and colourful range of plants and the Dry Meadow Mix reflects this. Steep banks or areas with thin soil , where water may be
limited in summer can also be sown with this mix.
To make a flowering lawn , choose the Short Mix which contains plants which are either
low-growing or can withstand occasional cutting to 10 cm (4").
For areas of light shade such as alongside hedges or walls, woodland edges or clearings
within woods, the Hedgerow Mix provides a colourful, tall mix of plants. For deep shade,
use the Woodland Mix which has plants tolerant of lower light levels.
The Annual and Biennial Mix is designed to produce the maximum concentration of flowers
over two years with cornfield annuals in the first year and taller biennials flowering in the
second year.
We can also make up special mixtures to suit individual sites or preferences - please give
us a call and we will be pleased to advise you on the most suitable mixture.

Timing
Sow in spring, from April to mid-June or in autumn from August to late-September.

Preparation
Existing vegetation should be killed off by herbicides or by ploughing. The soil should be
rotovated or harrowed and where possible left for 3-4 weeks to allow unwanted weed
seeds to germinate. Any weed seedlings can then be destroyed by spraying with herbicide
or rotovating. Do not add fertilizer. If the soil cannot be prepared in this way, existing
vegetation should be cut down as low as possible and the surface raked to expose as
much bare soil as possible.

Seed rates
These mixtures should be sown at 20-30 kg per hectare (= 2-3 g per m 2 or 8-12 kg per
acre). The lower rate can be used where a fine seed bed can be prepared on soil of low
fertility and few weeds. The higher rate should be used for small areas; where a fine seed
bed cannot be prepared, where fertility or weed infestation is high or on steep slopes.
If your calculations result in a requirement for less than 1 kg of seed, please consider
ordering slightly more seed than you have calculated as very small amounts of seed can
be difficult to handle.

Sowing
Seeds should either be broadcast by hand or using a seeder suitable for grass seed. If
sowing by hand, sawdust or sand may be mixed in to make the seed easier to handle. After
sowing, the site should be rolled or given a light harrowing to improve seed contact with the
soil.

Management
Perennials take time to establish and initial management is to control annual weeds, which
may otherwise take over.
For spring-sown meadows, cut twice in the first growing season to 10 cm (4"). This will kill
weeds and allow the sown species light and space. For autumn-sown meadows, cut in the
first April or May.
Future management can be reduced to cutting once at the end of the season in late
September. Some areas can be left long over winter to provide food and shelter for birds.
Cut these areas in early spring. Always remove cuttings. Add no fertilizers.
The species in a mixture will establish and flower at different rates and the composition will
change over a number of years until the species are eventually in balance.

Yellow Rattle ( Rhinanthus minor ) is a very useful annual plant for helping to establish
and increase the numbers of wildflower plants in a meadow. It is a semi-parasitic species
which weakens the growth of grasses by feeding on their roots. This allows the wildflowers
more space to grow with less competition so they develop more fully.