Native Origin Irish Wildflower Seed Mixture: 

Range: Meadow Mixtures  (Code MM)

Supplied without grass,  Grass seed can be added

Product Name: Wild Flora for Sandy Soil, or Stony Till. (pH <7.9) 

Product Code:  MM04 

Description: Meadow Mixture - MM04 is a stunning wildflower seed mixture ideal for sunny soils that are mostly made up of sand, gravel, glacial till (stony) or any open, sandy or course textured soil, one that is a 'light-easy-to-dig-soil' that dries out or is well drained. MM04 can be sown on quarries or on a large roof garden.

It can be grown short or tall, and can be grazed by Hares and Rabbits and most other wild animals.

Many of the flowers attract butterflies esp. Knapweed and Field Scabious.
This mixture can be kept short or allowed to grow and if sown on real sand may not have to be cut every year (every second year may do) as there will be little in the way of competition. 
Catchfly and Haresfoot clover are interesting plants to watch out for.

Mixture Specifications: 
Origin: Native Irish Origin, Wildflower Seed Mixture.
Moisture Level: Suits dry, normal or moist sand, not intended for very wet sandy soil.
pH range: Best between 5.5 - 7.5
Aspect: Sunny
Life Cycle: Annual / Biennial / Perennial. 
Height Range: After year 2 = 30cm - 120cm 
Flowering Period:  May to August.
Fertility Range: The less fertile the soil, the less cutting will be required.
Wintergreen: Moderate 
Total number of seeds per gram: 1735

This photograph is one day in the life of an ever changing meadow.

Species List: 
Birdsfoot Trefoil, Black Meddick, Bladder Campion, Burnet Saxifrage, Centaury, Corn Marigold, Corn Poppy, Cornflower, Corncockle, Cowslip, Field Scabious, Greater Knapweed, Kidney Vetch, Lady's Bedstraw, Lesser Knapweed, Marjoram, Scented Mayweed, Mullein, Ox-eye Daisy, Quaking Grass, Red Clover, Ribwort Plantain, Rough Hawksbit, Selfheal, St Johnswort, White Campion, Wild Carrot,  Yellow Rattle, Nottingham Catchfly, Musk Mallow, Salad Burnet, White Bedstraw. Yarrow.

Product Warning: DBN recommends that this mixture is not for human or animal consumption.

Sowing Specification:  
Soil Preparation: When sowing seed on sand keep the seed and seedlings moist after sowing, do not allow sand to dry as the seeds emerge as sand is liable to dry out very quickly, within hours. 
Optimum Sowing Time: Early spring, before the soil starts to dry our or in autumn, when the soil is still warm, when rain is due.

Sowing Conditions: Firm the soil, as best as you can, roll or rake seed into surface to keep out of reach from birds. 
Sowing Method: By hand is recommended, if using seed spreaders be careful to insure the small varieties of seed do not drop to the bottom of the seed spreader and get sown all in the one place. Can be Hydrasown. 
Fertiliser: May be required on some sandy soils, if existing plants find it difficult to grow on your soil, seek advice. 

Seed Sowing Rates:  
Normal sowing rate 'without added grass seed': 1.5 grams per metre.
High sowing rate 'without added grass seed': Add 3 grams per metre.

Grass seed or nurse crop requirement:

Nurse Crop: A nurse crop would be beneficial, 
Grass Seed Requirement: n/a, use Bent and Fescue species, Do not use species of Perennial Rye grass
Sow with or without grasses: Either / with grasses / without grasses
Sowing rate with grasses: 2 to 7 grams per metre depending on the percentage of grass.

If sown without grass seed, will this mixture require a nurse crop?: If the soil is likely to be very dry and in full sun and hot? If so. then an additional nurse crop will assist germination, however there are a small amount of 'nurse crop' annuals are provided in this mixture, enough for most sites and situations.

Performance:

In normal conditions (mainly in early Autumn and Spring) this mix should germinate 4 - 6 weeks after sowing, from then on, provided the sward is kept open and a 'Thatch' is not allowed develop, species will continue to germinate and emerge, through to the third year.
First Year:  

The annuals supplied in this mixture will flower profusely, provided they are sown before June. This mixture requires one cut when finished flowering.
Second Year: In the second year the biennials will also be very colourful. 
If this mixture was not cut in first year, cut and remove foliage in early Spring. Cut again in July, August or September, depending on when flower finish or the level of weeds that emerge. 
In the third year this meadow mixture will seem to have less flora than the first and second year. Why? 
The perennial species are still young, many will only have germinated in the second season, so flowers will be sparse. However, there should be identifiable foliage and some flowers. If not contact us. 
If the native grass seeds present in your soil grow vigorously, the meadow will require two or three cuts, the first cut in Spring (April/May) and the second cut in July or August, the meadow can again be cut in September if the grasses are still growing strong. 

When should this meadow be established and require one cut?
In the fourth year, when the perennials in the mixture should be flowering on many stems and starting to clump and spread, again if the grass is still vigorous cut in spring and in August of the fourth year. However if the perennials are growing strong there will be no need to cut until July, August or September depending on the fertility and wetness of the soil and the species which have grown.

A wildflower meadow should last many years, provided the wildflower species were correctly established, weeds were controlled and the meadow was cut and the cut material removed and occasional 'Gaps' are created. If not contact DBN.

Persistence if unmanaged: High, provided the sward is keep very open.
Tolerance of Cutting: High after second year. 
General Cutting Time: Mid to end of Summer and again in spring. 
Specific Cutting Time: Wait 3 weeks until after the last flush of flowers fade away, after seeds set.

Disposal of cut materials: Always remove the cuttings, wildflower meadow hay should be removed as soon as possible and not be heaped on site as it will grow mouldy (a health risk).  Meadow cuttings can be spread as compost in sheet mulches around trees and shrubs or composted. 

Management: Control grasses and weeds until well established. Accept any normal non-invasive weeds as they provide cover, once the sward is established, digging, spot spraying or weed wiping can be used to eliminate problem species.

Most species in this mixture are 'Browse' resistant. Rabbits effect this mixture when young but once established they should also help keep it short and flowering more profusely.

A General Description of Meadow Range: 
Meadow Mixtures are designed to grow on soil in specific situations. 
This range of seed mixture is ideal for those concerned with species suitability, composition and performance to be attractive, encourage wildlife and local biodiversity. If these mixtures are suitable for your situation, they offer good value and if given time, develop into a flora that will persist if properly maintained. 

Your purchase: Contributes to DBN's work of creating crops of Conservation Grade - Native Origin Wildflora. You help us to inform and pay land-owners to manage native species and to assist DBN in handing on our heritage for another generation. 
By growing (some will be difficult) these and all other species, you directly help to conserve national and global Biodiversity and protect wildlife. You should also consider yourself another Irish wildflower grower.