Perennial Wildflower & Grass Seed Mix for Calcareous (Alkaline) Soils – 20/80, 1kg
A perennial wildflower and grass seed mix for free-draining alkaline soils. Calcareous, lime-rich soils are often free draining and lower in nutrients. On very thin soils establishment can be slow and grass growth thinner, which is ideal for the longer-term development of the flowering species in this mix.
Key Features
- Perennial wildflower and grass mix for calcareous (lime-rich) soils
- Suited to free-draining alkaline ground that is lower in nutrients
- Thinner grass growth on very thin soils favours the long-term development of the flowering species
From bare soil to a meadow
When to sow
The best time to sow perennial wildflower seed is generally late summer to autumn (late August to October), when there is likely to be consistent moisture and warmth without extremes of cold or dry. Spring (late March to May) is usually the next best time, particularly where the ground is likely to be waterlogged over winter.
| Application Window | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ||||||
How to sow
| Prepare the ground | |
|---|---|
| New Seed Bed | Overseeding |
|
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| Provide water | |
| If there has been little rainfall irrigate gently and slowly to fully wet through the soil profile | |
| Sow seed | |
| |
| Provide water | |
| |
Management and aftercare
Many grasslands and meadows are traditionally managed by grazing, but mowing and removing the clippings can be used to replicate hay cutting and grazing. Always remove the clippings so nutrients are not returned to the soil: wildflower soils are usually kept low in nutrients to encourage species diversity.
| Suggested mowing regime | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
| Leave uncut unless growth is vigorous | Cut and collect clippings | Allow to flower and seed | Cut and collect clippings | Leave uncut unless growth is vigorous | |||||||
Specifications
| Sowing Rate | Flowering Height | Flowering Period |
|---|---|---|
| 5g/m2 | 5cm - 2m | April - October |
| 20% Wildflowers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Common name | % | Species |
| Betony | 1 | Stachys officinalis |
| Birdsfoot Trefoil | 1 | Lotus corniculatus |
| Bladder Campion | 3 | Silene vulgaris |
| Clustered Bellflower | 1 | Campanula glomerata |
| Common Agrimony | 4 | Agrimonia eupatoria |
| Common St John's Wort | 1 | Hypericum perforatum |
| Cowslip | 1 | Primula veris |
| Dark Mullein | 2 | Verbascum nigrum |
| Dropwort | 4 | Filipendula vulgaris |
| Greater Knapweed | 5 | Centaurea scabiosa |
| Hairy St John's Wort | 1 | Hypericum hirsutum |
| Hoary Plantain | 2 | Plantago media |
| Kidney Vetch | 6 | Anthyllis vulneraria |
| Lady's Bedstraw | 9 | Galium verum |
| Meadow Buttercup | 8 | Ranunculus acris |
| Musk Mallow | 5 | Malva moschata |
| Ox-Eye Daisy | 8 | Leucanthemum vulgare |
| Red Campion | 5 | Silene dioica |
| Salad Burnet | 4 | Sanguisorba minor |
| Selfheal | 4 | Prunella vulgaris |
| Small Scabious | 2 | Scabiosa columbaria |
| Tufted Vetch | 8 | Vicia cracca |
| Viper's Bugloss | 4 | Echium vulgare |
| White Campion | 4 | Silene alba |
| Wild Basil | 1 | Clinopodium vulgare |
| Wild Carrot | 5 | Daucus carota |
| Wild Marjoram | 1 | Origanum vulgare |
| 80% Grasses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Common name | % | Species |
| Browntop Bent | 5 | Agrostis capillaris |
| Crested Dogstail | 22 | Cynosurus cristatus |
| Golden Oatgrass | 4 | Trisetum flavescens |
| Quaking Grass | 1 | Briza media |
| Hard Fescue | 21 | Festuca trachyphylla |
| Sheeps Fescue | 12 | Festuca ovina |
| Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass | 10 | Poa pratensis |
| Slender Creeping Red Fescue | 20 | Festuca rubra litoralis |
| Smaller Catstail | 5 | Phleum bertolonii |
