How to Grow and Care for Wildflowers in Your Garden
Many of us are interested in adding wilder, more biodiverse planting to our gardens, but how easy is this to achieve?
The natural look, particularly in the form of wildflowers, is an increasingly popular one across gardens on Houzz – and for good reason. These generally low-maintenance, soft-on-the-eye plants attract wildlife, have bee-friendly blooms and can enhance the sense of being surrounded by nature, even in a small urban plot. But how easy are they to grow and maintain? Will they look rubbish in winter? And can you grow them in containers? Here, three experts share their advice.
Professional advice from: Rebecca Smith of RS Garden Design; Victoria Nettleton of Victoria Nettleton Landscape & Garden Design; Jonathan Snow of Jonathan Snow Design
Professional advice from: Rebecca Smith of RS Garden Design; Victoria Nettleton of Victoria Nettleton Landscape & Garden Design; Jonathan Snow of Jonathan Snow Design
Are there significant differences between wildflower types to note?
The professionals explain wildflower types are most simply distinguished according to the soil type and the conditions in which they’ll best thrive. These factors are what will determine which types will work best in your space.
“Wildflower seed mixes have been created for specific soil types, whether that’s heavy clay, light sandy soil or loam,” Rebecca explains. “It’s important to check that the seed is suitable for the conditions in which it’s to be planted.” She adds that you can also find more basic general-purpose mixtures of perennials that can be used in many different areas.
Of course, you’ll also need to consider whether they grow best in shade, semi-shade or full sun, and if they prefer wet over dry conditions or vice versa. Luckily, the labelling from most seed suppliers tends to be detailed, giving you clear information about the conditions required for whatever you’re considering buying.
See more of this garden, which features wildflower border turf.
The professionals explain wildflower types are most simply distinguished according to the soil type and the conditions in which they’ll best thrive. These factors are what will determine which types will work best in your space.
“Wildflower seed mixes have been created for specific soil types, whether that’s heavy clay, light sandy soil or loam,” Rebecca explains. “It’s important to check that the seed is suitable for the conditions in which it’s to be planted.” She adds that you can also find more basic general-purpose mixtures of perennials that can be used in many different areas.
Of course, you’ll also need to consider whether they grow best in shade, semi-shade or full sun, and if they prefer wet over dry conditions or vice versa. Luckily, the labelling from most seed suppliers tends to be detailed, giving you clear information about the conditions required for whatever you’re considering buying.
See more of this garden, which features wildflower border turf.
What other specific requirements do wildflowers have?
Although wildflowers require little tending, Rebecca points out that they’re not a no maintenance option. “They require an annual cut; they will need to be kept free from weeds – even meadows have weeds! – and they may require topping up with additional seeds if some plants fade away,” she says.
Also, wildflowers across the board prefer impoverished soil. How to achieve this? “Stripping off the top layer of soil – the topsoil – before planting the seeds will help to reduce the soil nutrition,” Victoria explains. “On richer, more fertile soils, if you don’t strip the top layer off, then the wildflowers can be smothered by more vigorous plants and grasses.”
It may take perennials a year or two to reach peak beauty. Seeds can be sown directly into their final positions in either spring or autumn. If you plant in spring, they’ll need frequent watering until they’re established; if they’re planted in winter, they can be watered once and then left.
Although wildflowers require little tending, Rebecca points out that they’re not a no maintenance option. “They require an annual cut; they will need to be kept free from weeds – even meadows have weeds! – and they may require topping up with additional seeds if some plants fade away,” she says.
Also, wildflowers across the board prefer impoverished soil. How to achieve this? “Stripping off the top layer of soil – the topsoil – before planting the seeds will help to reduce the soil nutrition,” Victoria explains. “On richer, more fertile soils, if you don’t strip the top layer off, then the wildflowers can be smothered by more vigorous plants and grasses.”
It may take perennials a year or two to reach peak beauty. Seeds can be sown directly into their final positions in either spring or autumn. If you plant in spring, they’ll need frequent watering until they’re established; if they’re planted in winter, they can be watered once and then left.
Can you just chuck down a seed bomb and forget about it?
“Yes!” Jonathan says. “And if you’re lucky, it will work.”
Again, different mixes will have been put together to thrive in different conditions, so check your desired location for them is suitable before purchasing.
Rebecca offers a few more tips to give a seed bomb its best chance to flourish. “Prepare the area to be planted, whether within a bed of established plants or a larger area of meadow,” she says. “Clear established weeds, dig out large stones and rake the soil over.”
Need some expertise to help refresh your garden scheme? See previous projects and read reviews of local landscape architects and garden designers in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
“Yes!” Jonathan says. “And if you’re lucky, it will work.”
Again, different mixes will have been put together to thrive in different conditions, so check your desired location for them is suitable before purchasing.
Rebecca offers a few more tips to give a seed bomb its best chance to flourish. “Prepare the area to be planted, whether within a bed of established plants or a larger area of meadow,” she says. “Clear established weeds, dig out large stones and rake the soil over.”
Need some expertise to help refresh your garden scheme? See previous projects and read reviews of local landscape architects and garden designers in the Houzz Professionals Directory.
Will they look bad in winter?
In short, yes. This is because wildflower patches require cutting down at the end of summer/early autumn.
“An area of [cut-down] wildflowers will not look like a ‘garden’ [during this period]. If this is an issue, plant wildflowers in an area not directly seen from the main windows in your home,” Rebecca suggests.
Once the wildflowers are chopped down, Rebecca advises the cut plants should be left in place for a few days and raked about a bit, so the seed can drop onto the soil before the cut plants are removed from site. “This will ensure the meadow returns year after year,” she says. It’s important not to leave the cut plants in situ long-term, though, as this would enrich the soil, making it less suitable for wildflower-growing.
In short, yes. This is because wildflower patches require cutting down at the end of summer/early autumn.
“An area of [cut-down] wildflowers will not look like a ‘garden’ [during this period]. If this is an issue, plant wildflowers in an area not directly seen from the main windows in your home,” Rebecca suggests.
Once the wildflowers are chopped down, Rebecca advises the cut plants should be left in place for a few days and raked about a bit, so the seed can drop onto the soil before the cut plants are removed from site. “This will ensure the meadow returns year after year,” she says. It’s important not to leave the cut plants in situ long-term, though, as this would enrich the soil, making it less suitable for wildflower-growing.
Can you grow wildflowers in containers?
Yes, and you should be able to find specialist mixes of seeds, such as marigold, poppy, buttercup, yarrow and wild pansy, selected precisely for this purpose. These can also be mixed with grasses if you have the space.
Take into account the final height of the flowers you’re planting to ensure your container will look good and be a suitable shape and size to support tall stems. “I tend to use the largest containers possible to get a lot of plants in, as well as making watering easier,” Rebecca says.
A purpose-built planter like the one in this garden is an ideal receptacle, but you could easily go smaller, or repurpose something like an old wheelbarrow, which would provide lots of room and look pretty. Don’t forget to drill holes in the bottom so water can drain away, and add a layer of crocks or small stones to aid this further.
“Use cheap compost without added nutrients for wildflowers, and a thin layer of wildflower seed,” Rebecca says. “I like to use annuals in pots, as they can be changed every year. Poppies, cornflowers and cosmos can be used together or singly to add colour and movement to a terrace or balcony.”
You might also enjoy How to Create a Spirit-lifting Sensory Garden.
Yes, and you should be able to find specialist mixes of seeds, such as marigold, poppy, buttercup, yarrow and wild pansy, selected precisely for this purpose. These can also be mixed with grasses if you have the space.
Take into account the final height of the flowers you’re planting to ensure your container will look good and be a suitable shape and size to support tall stems. “I tend to use the largest containers possible to get a lot of plants in, as well as making watering easier,” Rebecca says.
A purpose-built planter like the one in this garden is an ideal receptacle, but you could easily go smaller, or repurpose something like an old wheelbarrow, which would provide lots of room and look pretty. Don’t forget to drill holes in the bottom so water can drain away, and add a layer of crocks or small stones to aid this further.
“Use cheap compost without added nutrients for wildflowers, and a thin layer of wildflower seed,” Rebecca says. “I like to use annuals in pots, as they can be changed every year. Poppies, cornflowers and cosmos can be used together or singly to add colour and movement to a terrace or balcony.”
You might also enjoy How to Create a Spirit-lifting Sensory Garden.
What about growing them among existing planting or as part of a lawn?
This is less likely to work. “Don’t mix a wildflower look in a herbaceous bed,” Jonathan says. The soil requirements for each are quite different. The same goes for sowing wildflowers into a lawn. In each case, the wildflowers are unlikely to flourish.
Rebecca adds that if a wildflower meadow is to be installed in an area that’s been lawn, it will probably be difficult unless the lawn has been fully removed, together with the top layer of soil.
“Grasses can tend to be stronger growers and can smother the growth of [more delicate] wildflowers unless kept in check,” she says.
This is less likely to work. “Don’t mix a wildflower look in a herbaceous bed,” Jonathan says. The soil requirements for each are quite different. The same goes for sowing wildflowers into a lawn. In each case, the wildflowers are unlikely to flourish.
Rebecca adds that if a wildflower meadow is to be installed in an area that’s been lawn, it will probably be difficult unless the lawn has been fully removed, together with the top layer of soil.
“Grasses can tend to be stronger growers and can smother the growth of [more delicate] wildflowers unless kept in check,” she says.
Will they come back next year?
This depends entirely on what you’ve planted and, then, how you’ve dealt with the plants at the end of the growing season.
“Many seed mixes are a combination of annuals and perennials,” Rebecca says. “The annuals, such as poppies, will bloom in the first year and self-seed; the perennials might take a bit longer to establish and may flower better in the second year.”
Echoing Rebecca’s note on poppies, Victoria says that annual mixes will rely on seeds being allowed to germinate.
Tell us…
What experience do you have of growing wildflowers? Share your tips in the Comments.
This depends entirely on what you’ve planted and, then, how you’ve dealt with the plants at the end of the growing season.
“Many seed mixes are a combination of annuals and perennials,” Rebecca says. “The annuals, such as poppies, will bloom in the first year and self-seed; the perennials might take a bit longer to establish and may flower better in the second year.”
Echoing Rebecca’s note on poppies, Victoria says that annual mixes will rely on seeds being allowed to germinate.
Tell us…
What experience do you have of growing wildflowers? Share your tips in the Comments.
Above all, the experts are enthusiastic about the biodiversity benefits of wildflower displays such as this one, in a garden designed by Jonathan Snow.
“Wildflowers are good for the environment,” Victoria Nettleton says. “They support bee populations, which are in decline, and planting them will create an eco-friendly area attracting not only bees, but butterflies and other insects, as well as birds.”
Rebecca Smith agrees. “They provide pollinators with food, nectar and places in which to breed,” she says. “Wildflower seeds are an important source of food for small mammals and birds, they aid with the pollination of fruit crops, and they create areas of beauty.”
She and Jonathan also highlight some of the practical benefits for gardeners. “They’re fantastic for growing in areas where access for maintenance is difficult, such as on a steep bank or slope,” Victoria says.
“They also cover a large space quite cheaply, look lovely, and are low maintenance once they’re established – one cut per year,” Jonathan adds.