Create a mini meadow
You don’t need a field to create a meadow. A wildflower patch can be as small as you like, so why not reinvent a sunny corner of your lawn with a little meadow of your own? When choosing a site, consider the sunlight and rain exposure levels, as well as drainage. You can then select your seed mix accordingly. There are many types of meadow, the flower species depends on the topography, so you’ll find many mixes available.
You must also decide whether you want a perennial or an annual meadow. A perennial meadow will keep going year after year, provided it is managed and cut back after blooming. An annual meadow must be sown each year, although some flowers will self-seed, and can often provide the brightest and most sensational display. But the principles of sowing a meadow remain the same.
An annual flower mix will flower just once and then set seed before dying. This means cutting down the plants in autumn and resowing the meadow the following year. Ideally you should allow the seed heads to form before you cut as they provide a food source for local wildlife.
Most meadow seed mixes comprise plants that are fairly drought-hardy, so once the seed has been sown, the meadow shouldn’t require further watering unless there has been a particularly dry period. In this case, give the ground a careful soaking to make sure the seedlings do not dry out.