Tall Herb & Tussock Wildflower & Grass Seed Mix – 20/80 Wildlife Habitat, 1kg
A perennial tall herb and tussock wildflower and grass seed mix. Its species grow to varying heights and structures, creating habitat for a wide range of insects, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles. The taller species also help to visually blend more traditional parkland or meadow mixtures into woodland and natural scrub. Tall herb grassland is a vital food source late into the year, sustaining invertebrates which, together with the seeds, in turn feed birds.
Key Features
- Species of varying heights and structures
- Habitat for insects, small mammals, amphibians and reptiles
- Taller species blend parkland and meadow mixes into woodland and scrub
- Late-season food source for invertebrates and birds
- 20% wildflowers and 80% grasses
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 |
| ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | |||||
Management and aftercare
This mix is maintained differently from conventional species-rich wildflower grassland. Ideally, divide the area into three parts and mow one part each year in rotation, so the essential habitat that has been created is not lost. Leave the arisings in large piles on site: this very coarse hay plays an important part in habitat creation, giving reptiles places to lay eggs and hibernate.
| 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 | |||||||
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.
Specifications
| Sowing Rate | Flowering Height | Flowering Period |
|---|---|---|
| 5g/m2 | 5cm - 2m | April - November |
| 20% Wildflowers | ||
|---|---|---|
| Flower | % | Species |
| Black Knapweed | 8 | Centaurea nigra |
| Common Agrimony | 9 | Agrimonia eupatoria |
| Cow Parsley | 3 | Anthriscus sylvestris |
| Greater Knapweed | 3 | Centaurea scabiosa |
| Hedge Bedstraw | 10 | Galium mollugo |
| Lesser Burdock | 5 | Arctium minus |
| Musk Mallow | 3 | Malva moschata |
| Ox-Eye Daisy | 6 | Leucanthemum vulgare |
| Ribwort Plantain | 5 | Plantago lanceolata |
| Red Campion | 11 | Silene dioica |
| Salad Burnet | 8 | Sanguisorba minor |
| Selfheal | 9 | Prunella vulgaris |
| Small Teasel | 1 | Dipsacus pilosus |
| Teasel | 7 | Dipsacus fullonum |
| Tufted Vetch | 3 | Vicia cracca |
| Wild Carrot | 5 | Daucus carota |
| Yarrow | 4 | Achillea millefolium |
| 80% Grasses | ||
|---|---|---|
| Grass | % | Species |
| Cocksfoot | 12 | Dactylis glomerata |
| Crested Dogstail | 25 | Cynosurus cristatus |
| Meadow Fescue | 10 | Festuca pratensis |
| Meadow Foxtail | 3 | Alopecurus pratensis |
| Red Fescue | 14 | Festuca rubra |
| Sheeps Fescue | 10 | Festuca ovina |
| Tall Fescue | 8 | Festuca arundinacea |
| Tall Oat Grass | 5 | Arrhenatherum elatius |
| Timothy | 10 | Phleum pratense |
| Yorkshire Fog | 3 | Holcus lanatus |
