Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixture: Range: 

Meadow Mixtures  (Code MM)

Supplied without grass,  Grass seed can be added

Product Name: MM11 Free Draining Soils in High rainfall areas

Product Code:  MM11 

Description: 
Meadow Mixture - MM11 - is a difficult to establish but rewarding seed mixture for Dry-Humid acid soil is for high rainfall areas with acid soils especially on Old Red Sandstone and peaty soils in the south and west. (occasionally elsewhere)
Ideally suited to shallow peaty soil mixed with clay topsoil or loams of an acid base this mixture will flower all summer. 
MM11 should be cut at least once per year. 
Do not let any stock on it in the first two years or they will damage it as the heather is delicate when young. 
The annual Corncockle has noxious seeds, one of the many reasons for it not to be grazed by stock until the winter of year two, when all the annuals (Corncockle)  will have totally disappeared. 

Most annuals only flower for one year on untilled soil..

Mixture Specifications: 
Origin: Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture.
Moisture Level: Not for dry soil, unless well drained in high rainfall areas. suits moist free draining soils but not flooded wet.
pH range: Best between 5 - 6.5
Aspect: Sunny
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial / Perennial. 
Height Range: <30cm - > 150cm 
Flowering Period:  May to August.
Fertility Range: Will grow on any soil, suits mildly fertile top soil. The less fertile the soil, the less cutting will be required.
Wintergreen: Moderate 
Total number of seeds per gram: 1390 

This photograph is one day in the life of an ever changing meadow.

Species List: 
Stonecrop, Heather species, Corn Marigold, Corncockle, Cowslip, Devil's Bit Scabious, Meadow Buttercup, Foxglove, Hemp Agrimony, Lesser Knapweed, Scentless Mayweed, Meadowsweet, Ox-eye Daisy, Ragged Robin, Red Clover, Ribwort Plantain, Selfheal, Sorrel, Wild Angelica, Wild Carrot, Yarrow, Yellow Rattle. Birdsfoot Trefoil, Red Bartsia, Mint, Bog asphodel, 1% Bluebell, and Mullein as a safe guard nurse crop in second year. Marsh Ragwort 0.1% (not Common Ragwort)

Product Warning: DBN recommends that this mixture is not for human or animal consumption. 

Sowing Specification:  
Soil Preparation: Normal, create firm, fine tilt on seed bed, if clay, ensure a fine tilt or press the seed into clean soil.
Optimum Sowing Time: Spring, early autumn, when the soil is warm.

Sowing Conditions: Normal, roll or rake into surface to keep out of reach from birds. 
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. Yes. 
Fertiliser: None 

Seed Sowing Rates:  
Normal sowing rate 'without added grass seed':1.5 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 3 grams per metre.

Grass seed or nurse crop requirement:

Nurse Crop: No nurse crop is required. 
Grass Seed Requirement: n/a, use Bent and Fescue species, Do not use species of Perennial Rye grass
Sow with or without grasses: Either / with grasses / without grasses
Sowing rate with grasses: 2 to 7 grams per metre depending on the percentage of grass.

If sown without grass seed, this mixture: Will not require a nurse crop.

Performance:
In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) this mix should germinate 3 - 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 May flower, provided they are sown before June. This mixture requires one cut when finished flowering.
Second Year: In the second year the biennials will also be very colourful. 
If this mixture was not cut in first year, cut and remove foliage in early Spring, before the biennials grow. Cut again in July, August or September, depending on when flower finish or the level of weeds that emerge. 
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 to moderate.
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 Creeping Buttercup, if Creeping Buttercup is present cut this meadow in May in year two. The third year is the critical year to maintain this meadow as scutch grass, creeping thistle, nettle and dock will try to dominate as the growing conditions are ideal for such unwanted species.

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. 

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.