'On The Verge' will provide you with seed and if you are a community project, and need assistance , we can organise for the ground to be prepared by the Unpaid Volunteers Service.
Find a suitable piece of land:
(NB. Sowing seeds directly into existing vegetation is unlikely to work.)
Terrain: Flat to gently sloping is preferable with good drainage. Avoid water logged ground
.
Land Preparation:
Cut out any existing grass or vegetation and rotovate or dig over the soil.
Rake over to remove any large stones or clods of earth ready for sowing.
Good Weather for Sowing:
If possible, choose a calm day to sow the site with your wildflower seed mix. It can be tricky to sow in windy weather.
Map out your site:
Divide the area into square metres to ensure even seed distribution.
Seed Coverage:
Seed should be evenly spread across the soil at a ratio of 2 grams per square metre. 2 grams = one level teaspoon.
Seed Preparation
The seed can be mixed in a cup with dry silver sand to help spread it evenly, the sand will help you to see where you have already sown.
Seed Scattering:
Pour the seed/sand mix into your palm.
Scatter the seed close to the ground to avoid seed blowing away, moving backwards and forwards across the area to ensure even distribution.
Raking:
Lightly rake over the seed or tread over the area so that the seed makes good contact with the soil.
Do not bury the seed!
Cross your fingers and hope for rain and warm sun in equal measures.
Signage & Presentation of your site:
So that passers-by understand that the area has been set aside for growing wildflowers it is a good idea to place a sign in a prominent place. It can also be useful to cut a path around the flowers to frame the area and indicate that this is a managed site.
Management;
At the beginning of October cut back the wildflowers and rake off the cut to allow next year’s flowers to grow. If you prefer you can do the cut and rake the following year around February/early March.
Our seed mix is made up of annual, biennial and perennial nectar-rich, native Scottish wildflowers. The annuals will flower in the first year and thereafter the perennials will establish and should provide a permanent wildflower area for the enjoyment of people and pollinators alike.