Wildflower Patch

Hi, I started a wildflower patch last year and I’m hoping for some advice on how to manage it this year. I haven’t cut it back yet .. When should I cut it back and how do I control the grass better ?
It was lovely during summer and I’m hoping it’s done a good job of self seeding to have a nice display this year but I fear the grasses have taken over and will prevent the flowers from coming back.

 

Welcome to the forum.
It is best if you put your approximate location in your avetar

Recommended to mow, as for hay, ie not too short say 75mm, first week of August.Leave to dry, to enable seed heads to burst, then rake and remove, so as to reduce fertility. Given that you still need to mow now, then cut before the broadleaf plants start growing again and remove crop immediately. You could reseed with flowers in any patches but grass competition is a major factor, especially with modern ryegrass species bred for maximum crop output.

 

I didn’t cut it back in Autumn as I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I decided to strim it back today and ran the mower over it to tidy it up and see what grows back. Grass has become a bit of an issue though

 

I think you are supposed to remove all mowing's to reduce soil fertility and encourage the flowers over the grass.
I dont think this kind of thing can be done in one or two seasons, its an ongoing project that should improve each year.

 

Yeah this is a long term project. I was thinking of maybe scarifying it to try get some of the grass out to open it up.

 

It might help, I dont think it would do any real harm at this time of the year.

 

Mow and remove all cuttings. Scarify so you can see about 50% mud. Sow more wildflower seed in the next month or so. It takes about 3 years to get properly established.

 

Thanks TimV, that’s what my plan is. I just needed someone to say that’s the right thing to do . The display last year (it’s first year) was better than I thought it would be tbh so I’m hoping it’s going to be as good this year and going forward.

 

The other tip that you probably know is to sow yellow rattle seeds in Sep/Oct. They are semi-parasitic to grass, so kills off the tough grasses over time to make space for other wildflowers.

it’s definitely worth the effort.

 

Oh that sounds like a great idea. I’ll try that ! Thank you

 

@TimV We have tried over the years to grow yellow rattle. We have followed all the instructions and have gone through packets and packets of seeds. Never had any germinate. We have other wildflowers that flower and seed and then come again the next year but no luck with yellow rattle. A real pity.