A hint of sunshine, a
breath of spring air and suddenly the garden is full of
endless possibilities. With the whole of the year stretching
out before us, this could be the time to embark on a special
project. Perhaps your existing borders are in need of a
makeover, or finding the space for a new flower border could
be an ambitious start to the gardening year.
Creating a sunny wildflower
border is something even the most novice gardener can turn
their skills to – many wildflowers are easy to grow and those
that prefer sunny conditions are generally very adaptable and
easy going. The result will be satisfying whatever you
plant as the informal nature of these plants always produces a
pleasing effect. The only potential pitfall to
avoid is over planting, as some wildflowers will quickly use
up their allotted space and make their way into other plants’
territories. Choosing your wildflowers with care, and
omitting a few that spread rather more quickly than you would
wish, should mean that you avoid too much work later
on. Because of their versatility, there is a wildflower plant
for every situation, so wherever your new border is to be
sited, there will be species that will love that location. A
sunny border will inevitably attract more insects, so if you
can spare even the smallest open spot you will guarantee
visits from a good number of native pollinators
and birds. The smallest area can look attractive and
benefit wildlife, so don’t overlook that tiny patch of lawn
that is never sat upon or used in any way – it would be of
much more interest planted with small scabious, marjoram and
wild rockrose.
And there are plenty of
reasons to keep all your wildflowers in one area. Firstly it
is possible to create an absolute haven for invertebrates – many of
our native species have pollen and nectar galore, enabling the
creative gardener to choose from flowers that provide almost
all-year-round interest, for the gardener as well as bees
and butterflies. Another advantage is that a designated
wildflower border may be allowed to become a little overgrown
with a clear conscience – after all it is an area where
inevitably nature will take its course, plants will happily
seed and the whole will become pleasantly relaxed and blurred
around the edges. (You can of course be as tidy as you wish
with a wildflower border, but the excuse to be a little less
conscientious with its upkeep is there if you need it.)
Wildflower borders are also perfect for providing a theme for
an area. A border of white flowers perhaps, or a bumblebee,
butterfly or moth area; there are so many possibilities. Or
simply grow the native plants you especially love. The
wildlife will come to them anyway.
Most wildflowers benefit
from establishing in relatively poor soils. Often the area
beneath a lawn is ideal (unless you are an avid lawn feeder) as
this generally will be fairly starved of nutrients. If you
only have a redundant area of border, where organic compost
has been liberally applied in the past, don’t despair. Your
wild species will still grow, but will tend to be rather
larger than in the wild and more leafy. As long as they get a
start, you can cut the leafier parts back when necessary.
Don’t be tempted to mulch or fertilise with anything rich in
nitrogen and they will settle happily in a season or two when
nutrients have been used up.
Begin your ground
preparation by removing turf if it exists and lightly dig over
the soil beneath. Deep digging or other preparation really
isn’t necessary especially if you are planning to use small
plants or plugs. If you hope to establish your border with
native seed, a finer tilth will be required. Ensure that all
perennial weeds such as couch grass and docks removed. It will make maintenance
easier in the future. Your only other consideration should be
to take a look at your soil type. Although many wildflowers
are very adaptable there are plenty that will languish if your
soil is damp clay and they prefer a dry sand. Have a
wildflower gardening book, or even a wildflower field guide on
hand. These should give you an idea of where your preferred
plants grow in the wild, indicating the sorts of conditions
they thrive in.
Your next pleasant task, if
you haven’t already done so, is to choose your species. If
you are planning your wildflower border in a sunny spot, you
are fairly spoiled for choice. There is a great variety of
native plants that will establish in a warm dry place, from small
species such as thrift, pasque flower, heartsease and wild
thyme, to the larger back-of-the-border plants including musk
mallow, mullein and the stunning viper’s bugloss. For the
very back try any of the Verbascums or mulleins, with their
huge woolly leaves and yellow flowers. These flowers, which
are slightly scented at night, are especially attractive to
moths, and one moth species (the aptly named mullein moth)
lays her eggs on the grey-green felted leaves. Teasels can
also be included in a sunny border, although some people
prefer to keep these prolific seeders to a wilder spot.
Viper’s bugloss, which buzzes with bees of all kinds in mid
summer, is also suitable for the back or mid border. The
bright blue of chicory complements the pale pink of musk
mallow – these two plants make a stunning combination and both
cope well with a dry sunny location.
For the mid-border plants
of less stature are required. Dropwort, the dry soil
equivalent of meadowsweet, is a must and will grow in just
about any soil, except wet. Attractive seed heads follow its
frothy white, but sadly unscented, flowers. If you have clay,
meadowsweet will do well here. Other white wildflowers for
the mid-border could include wild carrot, with its interesting
basket-shaped seed heads, and white campion, a long flowering
species. Avoid Queen Anne’s lace (cow parsley) in this type
of border, in spite of its beauty. It seeds very quickly and
takes over before you know it. Jacob’s ladder will also be
happy here, as will wild mignonette (an annual or biennial).
Towards the front of the border more dainty flowers can find a
home. Wild pansy, with yellow and purple flowers will seed
profusely, and lady’s bedstraw, wild rockrose and bird’s foot
trefoil all add a splash of yellow from late May onwards.
There are of course many others that might appeal to you, so
scour your books and list those you like the look of. For an
extra splash of colour scatter in a little seed of the annuals
corn poppy, cornflower or corn marigold onto the soil surface
after your perennials have been planted. They will seed a
little over time and establish themselves without any further
help from you.
Sourcing your wildflowers
may present a problem. Although the number of species now
available as plug plants has increased considerably, many are
only available as seeds. Try your luck with seed, either
sowing very thinly into spaces in your new border and gently
firming in, or play safe and sow into pots, planting your
seedlings out when they have established a good root system.
However you create a border
of this type, have fun, mix and match and let your creativity
loose! There is no doubt that it will enhance the beauty of
your garden as well as increasing the variety of insects and
birds that visit it.
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