Gardening for wildlife
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Glechoma hederacea, ground ivy.
Posted: Thursday 27th of March 2025 09:07 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of March 2025 07:22 PM
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Hi Linda, some advice from our social media followers:
"If 'long grass' means ornamental, wait til spring to cut it back, about 6-8 inches above the crown, or else new growth is damaged. Nice to have some winter interest in the garden, too.
Check for the first frost date this fall & sow seeds at that point. They'll lay dormant over the winter, (no chance for germination). You don't want to plant them too early in autumn or seeds may sprout during a warm spell & wildflowers shoots will die off when it does freeze.
The only 'issue' with a seed mix is some var. won't germinate until they have had a period of exposure to cold. (I used to make seed balls & chuck them in snowbanks. They'd grow next spring!) But, other types do germinate before frost, so it's best to wait. Hope that helps!"
"I think she means lawn grass, in which case she needs to mow it traditionally in august. Here is a good article on it too"
"If 'long grass' means ornamental, wait til spring to cut it back, about 6-8 inches above the crown, or else new growth is damaged. Nice to have some winter interest in the garden, too.
Check for the first frost date this fall & sow seeds at that point. They'll lay dormant over the winter, (no chance for germination). You don't want to plant them too early in autumn or seeds may sprout during a warm spell & wildflowers shoots will die off when it does freeze.
The only 'issue' with a seed mix is some var. won't germinate until they have had a period of exposure to cold. (I used to make seed balls & chuck them in snowbanks. They'd grow next spring!) But, other types do germinate before frost, so it's best to wait. Hope that helps!"
"I think she means lawn grass, in which case she needs to mow it traditionally in august. Here is a good article on it too"
Posted: Wednesday 1st of September 2021 03:55 PM
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we have wild areas in our communal garden that we want wild flowers to grow next year. when should it be cut as it is dying back?. I have yellow rattle seeds and a mixture of wild flower seeds to scatter when should they be sown?
Posted: Wednesday 1st of September 2021 01:38 PM Last reply: Saturday 1st of March 2025 07:40 AM
Re: what is this plant please?
jm0928912
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determined what kind of plant?
Posted: Thursday 15th of July 2021 03:27 PM
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Your site is flagged up as insecure. What is nectar robbery? I do grow red campion.
Posted: Saturday 23rd of May 2020 04:05 PM
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I have tried yellow rattle seeding with no effect. In my wildlife garden, I have displaced grass but not 'noticed' any Yellow Rattle.
Posted: Saturday 23rd of May 2020 04:01 PM
Re: what is this plant please?
john owens
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A deadnettle ?
Posted: Saturday 23rd of May 2020 03:59 PM
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Another few comments from social media "Is it Lamium orvala, purple deadnettle.? Would fit the bill?"
"This is the honesty in my garden and the dried and peeled seed pods from last year indoors"
"This is the honesty in my garden and the dried and peeled seed pods from last year indoors"
Posted: Wednesday 8th of April 2020 09:38 PM
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Hi there, one member suggests it might be "Lunaria annua (Honesty)" ?
And yes, another vote for Honesty (lunaria annua)...
And yes, another vote for Honesty (lunaria annua)...
Posted: Wednesday 8th of April 2020 05:46 PM
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It looks at first similar to a nettle, but it does not sting.
Posted: Monday 6th of April 2020 12:39 PM Last reply: Thursday 27th of March 2025 09:07 AM
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Hi Liz
I am a approved supplier for The wildflower Turf company and have used the products to great effect over the past few years, it's an easy to use product, with the grass flower rate ideal would be ideal if you could add some pics and I can have a look for you and just advise from the pictures if that's ok for you
I am a approved supplier for The wildflower Turf company and have used the products to great effect over the past few years, it's an easy to use product, with the grass flower rate ideal would be ideal if you could add some pics and I can have a look for you and just advise from the pictures if that's ok for you
Posted: Saturday 1st of April 2017 06:43 AM
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Hi Claudia
From personal experience I would say it was too late to sow it this year, germination normally takes place late Feb early march, it also needs to have host plants growing around it when it germinates so while it may germinate after a little bit of a cold spell in the fridge, unless you have it sown with the right grass sp, it won't last and sadly die
I would save your money for the short term, buy some fresh seed in the summer and it has to be fresh, and try in August after cutting down esiting long grass
From personal experience I would say it was too late to sow it this year, germination normally takes place late Feb early march, it also needs to have host plants growing around it when it germinates so while it may germinate after a little bit of a cold spell in the fridge, unless you have it sown with the right grass sp, it won't last and sadly die
I would save your money for the short term, buy some fresh seed in the summer and it has to be fresh, and try in August after cutting down esiting long grass
Posted: Saturday 1st of April 2017 06:39 AM
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Morning
No sadly it won't be the effect of the yellow rattle yet, it should of started to germinate towards the end of Feb into march, it can take quite a few years for the effect of yellow rattle to make a big difference, during this time it can have good and bad years but will balance its self out
Hope that helps a little
No sadly it won't be the effect of the yellow rattle yet, it should of started to germinate towards the end of Feb into march, it can take quite a few years for the effect of yellow rattle to make a big difference, during this time it can have good and bad years but will balance its self out
Hope that helps a little
Posted: Saturday 1st of April 2017 06:33 AM
Re: Wildlife friendly bird protection
Sparklyanna
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How sad, do you know I hadn't even thought of that and I've recently splashed out on a load of butterfly netting, now I'm wondering if I should use it. I've done a search on Google and found a possible option worth trying, although I've not used it myself:
http://www.enviromesh.co.uk/butterfly--bird-netting-12-c.asp
In Australia they provide further advice to safeguard their wildlife:
http://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com/WFF/Netting.html
Finally, the advice given on the RSPB website is: 'Birds are also likely to be tempted by your soft fruits such as raspberry and gooseberry, so if you don't want to share, you'll have to cover them with 4 cm netting, this wider netting reduces the possibility of birds getting caught up. The netting should be taut, and hanging old CDs from it is a good way to make it more visible. ' Thanks for flagging this up, I'll definitely be placing CDs around the netting I'm using.
http://www.enviromesh.co.uk/butterfly--bird-netting-12-c.asp
In Australia they provide further advice to safeguard their wildlife:
http://www.wildlifefriendlyfencing.com/WFF/Netting.html
Finally, the advice given on the RSPB website is: 'Birds are also likely to be tempted by your soft fruits such as raspberry and gooseberry, so if you don't want to share, you'll have to cover them with 4 cm netting, this wider netting reduces the possibility of birds getting caught up. The netting should be taut, and hanging old CDs from it is a good way to make it more visible. ' Thanks for flagging this up, I'll definitely be placing CDs around the netting I'm using.
Posted: Friday 22nd of April 2016 05:59 PM
Wildlife friendly bird protection
Shoot User
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Last year I found a small bird had flown into my gooseberry netting, got caught and died. It was very sad and I do not want a repeat of this, this year. Has anyone got some tips on netting safely?
Posted: Thursday 21st of April 2016 07:59 AM Last reply: Friday 28th of February 2025 01:39 AM
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Last Autumn I cut a small area of a much larger meadow and sowed the area with Yellow Rattle as an experiment. I wanted to find out how effectively Yellow Rattle could reduce the vigorous grasses in order to encourage wild flower growth rather than having to resort to removing the topsoil. Over the winter, new grass has grown on my little patch and it is noticeably less vigorous - but I didn't associate the growth with the yellow rattle I thought it was part of the normal process as the ground had been left quite bare. Today however I have noticed that the grasses on the area outwith that which I had cut has also reduced in vigour. There are no obvious signs that the rattle has germinated - no seed leaves are visible - would it be normal to see such an effect before the seed leaves appear?
Posted: Monday 14th of March 2016 05:06 PM Last reply: Wednesday 16th of October 2024 02:37 PM
Re: Is it too late to sow wildflower seed?
Shoot User
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I've just found out I can sow until June so long as there is rain. Thanks all anyway.
Posted: Thursday 8th of May 2014 02:07 PM
Is it too late to sow wildflower seed?
Shoot User
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Hi, I've an area of lawn I want to destroy in order to plant native Irish wildflower seed. Is it too late in the year to do this, and if so, when is the best time to do it?
Thank you!
Ella
Thank you!
Ella
Posted: Thursday 8th of May 2014 01:54 PM Last reply: Thursday 17th of October 2024 01:22 PM
Re: Re: yellow rattle
Shoot User
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I've not tried this method with yellow rattle so unable to comment but another member may be able to advise. The yellow rattle seed we sowed in a chalk meadow wildflower area last autumn has germinated & is at the seedling stage so any you start now would be a bit delayed but I guess may catch up.
Alternatively you could try plug plants.
Happy gardening.
Alternatively you could try plug plants.
Happy gardening.
Posted: Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 12:31 PM
Re: yellow rattle
Shoot User
793 1
i would like to try this also... bit late now but is it any good to start germination in the fridge?????
Posted: Wednesday 2nd of April 2014 10:49 AM
Re: yellow rattle
Claudia
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Thank you Christine. A good idea - I will try plugs.
Posted: Tuesday 11th of February 2014 06:33 PM
Re: yellow rattle
Shoot User
793 0
Hi Claudia
No telling what the weather may do & it depends where you live. You could try but I would doubt that yellow rattle is likely to germinate this late. One alternative might be to try plug plants - we've not had any success with them but you might have better luck.
Christine
No telling what the weather may do & it depends where you live. You could try but I would doubt that yellow rattle is likely to germinate this late. One alternative might be to try plug plants - we've not had any success with them but you might have better luck.
Christine
Posted: Tuesday 11th of February 2014 04:55 PM Last reply: Tuesday 11th of February 2014 04:56 PM
yellow rattle
Claudia
793 4
I understand that yellow rattle is normally sown in Autumn so that it has a period of cold winter weather before it germinates.
Would I have any luck sowing it now (Feb) as the cold weather is still to come? This is for my wild area.
Thank you.
Claudia
Would I have any luck sowing it now (Feb) as the cold weather is still to come? This is for my wild area.
Thank you.
Claudia
Posted: Tuesday 11th of February 2014 04:14 PM Last reply: Monday 11th of November 2024 02:24 PM
Re: Wildflower meadow turf
Shoot User
1548 0
Hi Liz
We live in the Lincolnshire Wolds & have used wildflower / grass seed mixes from Emorsgate Seeds.
www.emorsgateseeds.com
It will come up as wildseed.co.uk
They sell mixes suitable for different soil types, list the composition & have guidance on establishing wildflower meadows. We have successfully established a chalk meadow bed in one part of our garden & are now trying the tussock seed mix elsewhere in the garden.
Happy gardening.
We live in the Lincolnshire Wolds & have used wildflower / grass seed mixes from Emorsgate Seeds.
www.emorsgateseeds.com
It will come up as wildseed.co.uk
They sell mixes suitable for different soil types, list the composition & have guidance on establishing wildflower meadows. We have successfully established a chalk meadow bed in one part of our garden & are now trying the tussock seed mix elsewhere in the garden.
Happy gardening.
Posted: Monday 14th of October 2013 03:03 PM
Re: Wildflower meadow turf
Shoot User
1548 0
Hi. I live in a building that used to be a Victorian poor boys institution (and than a poor home and hospital, and then a maternity hospital) and every map of them shows that part of the lawn has remained the same. And it's an interesting bit of lawn! Lots of little plants that flower while short. The gardening company is going to allow a bit of it to grow for me to investigate next year. And I've been investigating this on-line already.
You may find these links helpful:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/10113049/Is-flowering-sward-the-death-knell-for-the-English-lawn.html
http://cutabovefw.com/lawn-care/
http://www.tootsietime.com/2011/06/victorian-garden.html
http://www.camomilelawns.co.uk/ideas.htm
And from the RSPB (see more there, too):
Picking the right plants
Some plants do more damage than good to wildlife. To help you pick plants that
won’t escape from your garden and cause havoc in the wider countryside, here’s
a little list of plants we recommend you get your hands on:
• yarrow
• black knapweed
• lady’s bedstraw
• common cat’s-ear
• ox-eye daisy
• common bird’s-foot trefoil
• ribwort plantain
• self-heal
• yellow rattle
• common sorrel
For more advice on what plants are great for your garden and where to buy from,
check out our friends at Flora Locale (www.floralocale.org)
Let us know how it goes!
Karin
You may find these links helpful:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/gardening/10113049/Is-flowering-sward-the-death-knell-for-the-English-lawn.html
http://cutabovefw.com/lawn-care/
http://www.tootsietime.com/2011/06/victorian-garden.html
http://www.camomilelawns.co.uk/ideas.htm
And from the RSPB (see more there, too):
Picking the right plants
Some plants do more damage than good to wildlife. To help you pick plants that
won’t escape from your garden and cause havoc in the wider countryside, here’s
a little list of plants we recommend you get your hands on:
• yarrow
• black knapweed
• lady’s bedstraw
• common cat’s-ear
• ox-eye daisy
• common bird’s-foot trefoil
• ribwort plantain
• self-heal
• yellow rattle
• common sorrel
For more advice on what plants are great for your garden and where to buy from,
check out our friends at Flora Locale (www.floralocale.org)
Let us know how it goes!
Karin
Posted: Monday 14th of October 2013 10:24 AM