The flower meadow has been particularly trendy for some time and that’s good because it cheerfully benefits the gardener friendly wildlife. It also brings to the garden a absolutely charming bucolic touch which we never tire of. Here is a spotlight on the flower meadow that will delight beginner gardeners because it is very easy to sow but also to live.
What is the flower meadow
To install this multitude of flowers of any kind – whether on grass or on bare ground – just buy a mixture of seeds to sow, usually marketed in bags or boxes. There are some for all types of soils and we also choose according to the climate of its region or even ofexposition desired, shade or full sun.
These associations sold under the name of flowered meadow are the fruit the rigorous selections of wildflowers, allowing each gardener to find something to meet their desires. They can be grouped together in the same selection by tone to easily create a monochrome for example, or on the contrary to allow to bring to its green setting a note multicolored. Each flower meadow is made up of species of perennials and/or annuals. They are selected according to their particularities.
Sow the flower meadow
The cultivation of a flower meadow is of one very easy. Once you have the selection of seeds that meet your expectations, you just have to sow them. The best time is between the end of March (in regions with a mild climate) and the month of june for geographical areas where late frosts are frequent. But, if you choose a selection of perennial plants, you can sow until the end of September or mid-October. However, it is better to avoid sowing in the event of morning frost, drought or even very hot weather.
To sow a flowery meadow, it suffices to respect the procedure next.
- Start by preparing the ground by marking it out. You can use a chalk line for an impeccable result.
- Dig deeply and turn the soil.
- Remove all weeds, the ideal being to weeding by hand.
- Loosen the soil so that it is soft. This promotes the circulation of air, water and the penetration of nutrients into the soil. It is also recommended to allow the penetration into the soil of the various micro-organisms and beneficial insects but also so that the seeds of flowering meadows take root quickly.
- Then pass the garden rake to level the ground and remove superfluous stones.
It is useful to specify here that the plants making up a flower meadow grow very well in poor soils and are quite happy with it. Because of this peculiarity, expert gardeners advise against amending the soil before sowing. And contrary to what one might think, the plants will be stronger and more beautiful if you don’t put fertilizer, especially since in the absence of fertilizer, they will not suffer competition from undesirable weeds. Indeed, we must be aware that fertilizers promote the development of leaves. However, the interest of a flower meadow lies in the multitude of flowers that bloom and attract pollinating insects as well as birds, while bringing an extremely aesthetic country note to the garden.
Once the land is ready, when the time is right for sowing, all you have to do is:
- Mix the seeds with a little sand to facilitate their distribution because they are small.
- Distribute the seeds of flowering meadow seeds using the method of semi on the flydue to 6 g/m². This dosage can be increased a little if you sow on dry, stony ground such as a bed for Mediterranean plants or even in a rockery. In fine, the flowers must be numerous to give a compact flowery effect. However, if too many seeds are laid, nature will make a selection and many plants will not develop. A good compromise must therefore be found.
- Do not bury the seeds in the ground.
- Compact the soil either with the foot, or with the back of the rake or with the help of a roller so that each seed is in good contact with the soil.
- Sprinkle in fine rainwith a watering can fitted with its head for a very small area, with a hose if a large area has been sown.
During the next four or five days, if the weather forecast does not announce any rain, it is necessary to water every day, always in light rain, to promote germination. Thereafter, weekly watering for a month is essential unless it rains very regularly and enough. You just have to wait for a month and a half to two months to see a multitude of country flowers bloom and rejoice in this striking spectacle.
Maintain a flower meadow
Very undemanding, the flower meadow does not need great care. It is therefore suitable for all gardeners, including those who do not have much time to devote to their natural space. At most it is useful:
- To water in very dry weather or if, because of its quality, the soil does not retain its freshness for long.
- To continue to hunt weeds by dislodging them by hand.
- Remove faded flowers as you go to encourage new flowering.
At the end of the season, when the meadow no longer flowers, we can mow perennials after they have gone to seed so that they re-sow themselves spontaneously or else uproot annual plants. In the latter case, it will be necessary to get down to preparing the ground again. It will thus be ready the following year to welcome a new seedling of flowering meadows.