5 Key points for creating wildflower meadows.

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Key points for creating wildflower meadows 

1
Where your wildflower seed comes from matters! If you decide to plant a wildflower meadow using commercially bought seed, it is very important to use ONLY native species collected and grown on the island of Ireland.

2
Make sure sowing wildflow seed is appropriate for your site If your site already has good pollinator friendly plant species, sowing wildflower seed will be costly and unnecessary. Instead, enhance your natural wildflower meadow through reduced mowing, and consider plug planting of additional species. If your site has only amenity grasses and few other flowers, then consider sowing a native commercial wildflower seed mix.

3
For the best results, plan carefully and properly prepare your site Wildflower seed can be costly, so it’s important to properly prepare your site before sowing seed. You also want to be sure the seed you buy is appropriate for your site.

4
The job isn’t done once the seed is planted….be prepared to manage your meadow All wildflower meadows need management in the years after sowing. This usually involves cutting the area once a year and removing the cuttings. This requires specialised equipment so be sure to consider management details before purchasing seed mixes.

5
Don’t forget to provide flowers in spring time! Planting a wildflower meadow will mostly provide food for pollinators in the summer time. But making sure flowers are blooming in spring is still critical. To ensure pollinators have food before your wildflower meadow blooms, plant early flowering trees or shrubs (e.g. Willow) in hedgerows or in other nearby sites.