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Description:
Cut
and Sow Dry. a simple mixture, that can be sown directly into existing
'Dry' meadows, grass swords and lawns
GF07
is a specialist stitching or slot seeding mixture, meaning it can be sown
straight into existing Dry meadow grass or lawns.
In the fist and maybe second year, you will have to cut the grass to 4" / 10cm each month after sowing. Aiming to stop the grass smothering the wildflower seed.
Establishment:
To establishing a Cut and Sow mixture, you will first require weeding out unwanted species from the
existing 'sward' of grass. Kill weeds, specially white clover, dock, thistle and couch grass.
Then cut down / mow the existing grass as low as is possible, to what's
called 'zero grazed' to remove all the green grass and remove any dead grass thatch or dead 'strawy' materials, the lawn should look like bare soil. The grass will be still alive but under the soil, the soil surface should be as exposed as possible. Cut it again i you can,
Rake/harrow the ground and sow the seed as soon as you can, while the grass is below soil.
Roll or press the seed into the ground.
Small
Gardens: For small
areas, use strimmer, rotary and mulch mowers to reduce and remove the
grass the operation can be followed by a cultivator passed over the soil at lowest throttle to
scratch the surface. We use a rake, in very small areas.
For
large areas:
Employ a chain harrow or specialist contractors with 'one pass seeder
machines' which will kill narrow bands of grass to allow the seed to be
sown, the ground can also be harrowed, roll the seed into the
surface.
If livestock are available, graze the soil so it becomes poached, harrow
and roll then sow and roll again.
 SEED
SOWING: Try to sow the seed in early spring or late Autumn, when the
grass is not growing, and there is moisture in your dry soil.
Sow
into the bare soil that you have scored and roll and or rake the seed into
the surface. Record the date of sowing and exactly 5 weeks later if there
is grass growth, cut to 6 cm and again in 5 weeks cut to 9 cm and remove
the cuttings.
A
dressing of seaweed meal, or powered kelp may help If the grass tops the
germinating flora, cut again into late September to 9cm.
As
this mixture is intended for dry soil, it is important to try and carry
out any such work just before rain is due.
If too much grass growth arises and there are a number of 'growth
inhibitors' (not for gardeners) that can inhibit grasses, these can be
used at low or half the recommended rates once the flora is passed the 8
leaf stage.
In summer on dry soil the grass should stop growing and cutting will be
unnecessary, indeed the grass may assist the growth of the wildflowers if
maintained at 30 to 60 cm.
Additional
Options: If sowing
into existing grass swards, Individual species of Seeds, Wildflower Plugs,
Plants and Planteens can also be sown into the sword at the same time, as
the establishment and maintenance will be the same, these can be placed
where they will best grow. We have seen al ot of failures with this method as the grass rarely gets cut after planting,
Insure that planting is timed to when rain is due. Harebell is ideal for
such single species introductions as the seed is expensive and difficult
to establish.
Mixture Specifications:
Origin: Garden Wildflower Seed Mixture.
pH range: Suits all soils.
Aspect: Sunny
Life Cycle:
Contains Grassland Annuals, Cornfield Annuals , Biennials and Perennials.
Height Range: 30cm - 120cm
Flowering Period: May to August.
Fertility Range:
Will
grow on any soil, the less fertile the soil, the
less cutting will be required.
Wintergreen: Moderate
Total number of seeds per gram:
860
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