Product
Warning: DBN
recommends that this mixture is not for human or animal consumption. Click
here for further details
Sowing Specification:
Soil Preparation:
'Stone pick' the site. Try not to cultivate
the soil in such a way that it brings up the hidden layers of stone. It
would be better to kill or the surface vegetation and not plough or
rotavate, Shallow cultivate instead. Burning the surface vegetation away, can reduce the need to cultivate entirely. Creating a firm 'fine tilt'
finished seedbed may also be difficult.
Optimum Sowing Time: Early Spring
before the soil dries out, early
autumn, when the soil is warm and rain is due. Sowing should take place
immediately after burning.
Sowing Conditions:
Normal, roll or rake into surface to
keep out of reach from birds. Click
here for more details
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: Yes, a low dose can be used,
depends on how poor the soil is. Click
here for more details
Seed Sowing Rates:
Normal
sowing rate 'without added grass seed':1.5 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': 3 grams per metre.
With grass, sow an extra 1.5 to 3 grams of Design By Nature grasses.
Grass
seed or nurse crop requirement:
Nurse
Crop: As annuals will find it difficult on these soils, a nurse crop
may well be required, depending on the density of weeds that were
present and what is expected to grow back..
Grass Seed Requirement: n/a, use Bent and
Fescue and selected species, Do not use species of Perennial Rye grass
Sow with or without grasses: Either / with grasses /
without grasses
Sowing rate with grasses: 3 to 6 grams per
metre depending on the percentage of flora and grass.
If sown without
grass seed,
this mixture:
Will not require a nurse crop.
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Performance:
In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) this mix should
germinate 4 - 6 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.
First Year:
The
annuals supplied in this mixture will
flower if the site has some fertility, provided they are sown before June. This mixture requires one cut when finished flowering in its first summer..
Second Year:
If this mixture was not cut in first year, cut
and remove foliage in early Spring. Cut again in July, August or September,
depending on when flower finish or the level of weeds that emerge.
In the second year the biennials
will also be very colourful.
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.
If the native grass seeds present in your soil grow vigorously, the meadow will require two
or three cuts, the first cut in Spring (April/May) and the second cut 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, when 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 wildflower species
were correctly
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: Low
Tolerance of Cutting: High after second year.
General Cutting Time: Mid to end of Summer and again in
spring.
Specific Cutting Time: Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush
of flowers fade away, after seeds set.
Disposal
of cut materials: Always remove the
cuttings, wildflower meadow hay should be removed as soon as possible
and not be heaped on site as it will grow mouldy (a health risk).
Meadow cuttings can be spread as compost in sheet mulches around trees
and shrubs or composted.
Management: Control grasses and weeds until
well established. Accept any normal non-invasive weeds as they provide cover,
once the sward is established, digging, spot spraying or weed wiping can
be used to eliminate problem species. Control weeds, especially Gorse
and bracken until established.
Most species in this mixture
are 'Browse' resistant.
A
General Description of Meadow Range:
Meadow Mixtures are
designed to grow on soil in specific situations.
This range of seed mixture is ideal for those concerned with species suitability,
composition and performance to be attractive, encourage wildlife and local biodiversity.
If these mixtures are suitable for your situation, they offer good value
and if
given time, develop into a flora that will persist if properly maintained.
Wildflower growing is relatively new to horticulturalists, please check our online
Wildflower Growers Manual
for further details.
Your purchase:
Contributes to DBN's work of creating crops
of Conservation Grade - Native Origin Wildflora. You help us to inform
and pay land-owners to manage native species and to assist DBN in
handing on our heritage for another generation.
By growing (some will be difficult) these and all other species, you
directly help to conserve national and global Biodiversity and protect
wildlife. You should also consider yourself another Irish wildflower
grower.
Professional
Ecologists: Our 'Meadow Mixture Range' is intended as a 'soil
suitable' horticultural range of specific flora suitable across a
wide range of Irish sites.
For further reading see: Seed
supply by 'Soil Type' | Genetic
diversity- Seed Triggers.
| Seed
Treatments - Stratification, Scarification and more
For seed mixtures by
percentage weight see Mixture
composition - Seed percentage
|
