Sowing a New Lawn

1) Remove perennial weeds, stones & rubbish before sowing.

2) Prepare the seed bed via digging or cultivating to a minimum depth of 15cm.

3) Create a firm and level seed bed by raking, followed by a roller if possible.

4) Depending of the fertility of the soil a pre-seeding fertiliser is recommended

5) Sow the grass seed at 50g/m2 or a cupped hand per meter via a broadcasting motion, ensuring even covering.

6) For best results moisten ground after seed is finely raked into seed bed.

7) In dry & hot conditions water with a fine spray.

8) Cut when it reaches 6cm, thereafter cut frequently to stimulate shoot growth & establishment.

Establishment & Care of Wild Flora

Soil preparation

Prepare a weed-free seed bed, cultivating to around 10cm. If the site is particularly weedy it may be prudent to treat it first with a systemic weed killer. Wild flowers perform best in low nutrient conditions so there is no requirement to enrich the soil.

Sowing

Sowing can take place through most of the year, however the spring and autumn months are generally the most suitable. Mix the seed thoroughly, many of the seeds are very small and can find their way to the bottom of the bag. The recommended sowing rate is 5g per m2, the mixture can be bulked up with silica sand to aid application if required – 4 parts sand to 1 part seed by weight. Rake the seed in to approximately 5mm depth into the soil and firm the seed bed (using a roller if possible).

Maintenance

During the first year the aim is to control weeds and competition from grasses. Cut to a height of 5cm when the sward reaches 15cm (approximately every two months). Remove all of the cut material to reduce nutrients into the soil and avoid smothering the sward. Remove any weeds and competitive grasses.

After a year the sward should be well established and require two main cuts a year. Cut to 7-8cm in March and as before, remove all of the cuttings. The second cut should take place at the end of the flowering period, which in a normal growing season would be October. Again, cut to 7-8cm and remove all of the cut material and remove weeds. A further cut can be made before the winter if there is an extended growing season.

Cornfield

Annuals Maintain as above, but harrow during the spring or autumn to encourage the regeneration of the annuals. If a mechanical harrow is not available, a spring-tined rake will be more than adequate