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Seed
Mixture Specifications:
Total number of seeds per gram: 1900
Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture. EC09
Suitable for soil type: Amenity Grassland, Parks, Loam, light Clay, Damp sand, Improved soils.
Moisture Level: Very Dry, Dry, Normal, Occasionally Moist, but not Flooded Wet
pH range: Best between 5.5 >7.9
Aspect: Sunny, occasional shade and not deeply shaded.
Morphology:
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial /
Perennial.
Height Range: <30cm to >150cm
Flowering Period: March to September, but may falter in
very dry summers, however species will recover.
Fertility Range: Will
grow slowly in very poor soil, if very
infertile apply fertiliser (see below). Case
Study of this Mixture
Wintergreen: Moderate, if required sow with grasses
Design
Notes: EC09 is one of my favourite seed mixtures, it flowers over a long time,
is very colourful rich in the Scabious Family and attracts
butterflies. Grasses should be carefully chosen and if at all possible,
source them locally, by getting spoil from quarries and spreading it
before sowing EC09.
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Sowing Specification:
As Normal, roll or rake into surface to
keep out of reach from birds. Sow this mixture in Autumn
and early Spring so the seed can germinate before the soil dries out. Click
here for more details
Soil Preparation:
To establish, especially since it will be sown on low nutrient
soils, fertiliser or weed free organic matter may be required to aid
germination.
Optimum Sowing Time: Late spring, early
autumn, when the soil is damp.
Sowing Conditions:
Normal. protect from rabbit as germination emerges in 6th to 10 week
after sowing
Sowing Method: By hand is recommended, if
using seed spreaders be careful to insure the small varieties of seed do
not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and get sown all in the one
place. Can be Hydrasown. Click
here for more details
Fertiliser: No.
Seed Sowing Rates:
1.5 grams per metre.
Normal
sowing rate 'without added grass seed':1.5 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 3 grams per metre.
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Grass
seed or nurse crop requirement:
Nurse
Crop: No nurse crop is required.
Grass Seed Requirement: Normal Parkland Grasses, add fescues and Bents, keep Perennial ryegrass rates very low.
Sow with or without grasses: Either
Sowing rate with grasses: 2 to 4, 4 to 6 grams per metre.
50% Flora / 50% grass seed, or up to 80% grass at 6 to 7 grams per metre
where erosion may occur.
If
sown without grasses: This mixture will not require a nurse crop.
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Seed Specification:
In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) this mix should germinate 6
to 10 weeks
after sowing, from then on provided the sward is kept open and a 'Thatch' is not allowed develop, species will continue to germinate and emerge, through
to the third year.
Up to 60% of all seed should germinate in the first year.
Up to 50% of all species should germinate in 12 months.
Up to 90% of all species
should have flowered by the fourth year after sowing.
Performance:
Attracts many butterfly species.
If
this mixture is sow with annuals, or contains annuals, they will flower profusely
in the first year, provided they are sown before June. They require one
cut when finished flowering. In the second year the biennials will also
be very colourful. Cut once in late August.
In the third year this meadow mixture will seem
to have less flora than the first and second year. Why?
The perennial species are still young, many will only have
germinated in the second season, so flowers will be sparse. However,
there should be identifiable foliage and some flowers. If not contact
us.
In the second and third the native grasses in your soil will have grown
and will be emerging so strongly that the meadow will require two cuts,
one in Spring and the Second in July or August, the meadow can again be
cut in September if the grasses are still growing strong.
When
should this meadow be established and require one cut.
In the fourth year the perennials in the mixture should be flowering on
many stems and starting to clump and spread, again if the grass is still
vigorous cut in spring and in August of the fourth year. However if the
perennials are growing strong there will be no need to cut until July,
August or September depending on the fertility and wetness of the soil
and the species which have grown.
A
wildflower meadow should last many years, provided the species
established, weeds were controlled and the meadow was cut and the cut
material removed and occasional 'Gaps'
are created. If not contact DBN.
Persistence if unmanaged: Normal
Tolerance of Cutting: High
General Cutting Time: Mid to end of Summer.
Specific Cutting Time: Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush
of flowers fade away, after seeds set.
Management: Control grasses and weeds until
well established.
Most
species in this mixture are 'Browse' resistant.
A
General Description of this product and the 'Ecotype' Range:
Ecotype seed mixtures are
designed to imitate natural ecologies found in specific situations.
This range of seed mixture is ideal for those concerned with encouraging wildlife and local biodiversity as
the plants will attract species suited to the ecology.
If this mixtures is suitable for your situation, it offers good value, contains some of the most exacting and unusual species and if
given time, develop into a diverse flora that will persist if properly maintained.
Professional
Ecologists:
Our 'Ecotype Flora Range' is intended as a
baseline 'non-locally' specific flora suitable for conservation across a
wide range of sites found in Ireland.
For further reading see: Seed
supply for Irish Habitats by classification. For seed mixtures by
percentage weight see Mixture
composition- Seed percentage. Seed
Treatments- Stratification, Scarification, Heat treatments and more.
Genetic
diversity- Seed Triggers.
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By Nature © Crettyard, Carlow, Ireland.
Telephone:
++ 353 (0)56 4442526 Email: info@wildflowers.ie
Web
Sites: www.wildflowers.ie
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