Wildflower - general questions

Hi everyone,

I'm just new to Gardeners Corner so forgive me if I've posted this in the wrong place.

I have a few questions about wildflower. I have quite a steep bank and my landscaper suggested sowing some wildflower to brighten up the area. We went for an autumn sowing as it said this would favour the poppies, cornflower and Corn Cockle in the mix (we have used a cornfield annuals mix containing chamomile, corn cockle, cornflower, marigold and poppy). We also sprinkled some seeds from poppies from another area in the garden. Over the last week or so there has been a lot of growth ( see pictures)

My question is - is this what I should expect it to look like at this stage? It seems overpopulated although I did follow the sowing instructions (3g/sqm)

Will this thrive to be a nice wildflower meadow with varying colour or does it look like only one flower has been dominant?

Sorry for all the questions - I have no experience in wildflower as I'm sure you can tell!

Thanks in advance

Poppy x

 

I think it will sort itself out, some might be weeds as well, but I'd leave nature to it, they are "Wild" flowers after all.
Should add I dont know much about wild flowers but I'm sure someone else can give you some better info.

 

Come on wild flower growers have you got any input here.
I'm sure some of you have done this kind of thing.

 

Looks to be going well to me. The seedlings are too small for me to tell what they are but density looks to be good as being wildflowers they should be used to competing with other plants for room to grow. I found when I tried to plant a "rake in" wildflower mix I got a lot of less desirable weeds growing in the area like dock leaf and dandelion and slug damage to the ones I wanted to keep growing so it worked out better to start some wildflowers in windowboxes and transplant the known plants onto the sloped area. Once established they were then able to self seed themselves and it is less work weeding the area now since the wildflowers I want have become more established. I think the best thing now is just to wait and see how it turns out like Pete has suggested. If there are any obvious undesirables sprouting you could pluck them out as they become recognisable if they are accessible without trampling the rest. The direction the slope is facing is also relevant to what will do well there with my sloped area being north facing so the plants you describe using might not have worked that well on the slope I was planting where there is less light than elsewhere in the garden.

Happy gardening!

 

Thanks so much everyone for your responses. I think you're right, I'm just going to have to have some patience and go with the 'wait and see' approach. Hopefully it can get a good start this year and I see plenty of colour. Whatever happens, it can't be any worse than a plain muddy bank.

I will keep you posted over the coming months!

Poppy x

 

Resist the temptation to boost growth by enrichment. Typically indigenous (wild flower/'weeds') rely on survival by existing in 'poor' nutrient soils;amendments will only throw the natural balance and lead to unfair boost to dominant varieties. Remember that not all plants grow everywhere and that unless conditions are correct, the species selected will give way to others more suited. Are you growing these in a background of suitable grass species, to create a meadow effect ?

 

Hi everyone. Just wanted to give a quick update - I'm really happy with how it is looking so far! Finally seeing some colour now and its fairly brightened up that area!! Woohoo

 

Wow that is stunning!

 

That's lovely!

 

Beautiful.