Pro Flora 9 - Heritage General Purpose

Wildflower Seed for General Purpose Use A diverse mixture containing over 40 species, ideal on a range of sites and soils, especially where the establishment of a greater number of species is required. Pro Flora 9 contains annuals making it ideal for sites where there is to be no ‘year one’ mowing as part of the maintenance provision, allowing the annuals to flower providing colour in the first year. Sowing Rate Flowering Height Flowering Period 5g/m2 5cm - 1.6m April - November 10% Wildflowers Flower % Species Agrimony 4 Agrimonia eupatoria Birdsfoot Trefoil 1 Lotus corniculatus Black Knapweed 7 Centaurea nigra Common Mallow 2 Malva sylvestris Corn Cockle 12 Agrostemma githago Corn Feverfew 5 Matricaria perforata Cowslip 1 Primula veris Field Poppy 2 Papaver rhoeas Foxglove 1 Digitalis purpurea Great Mullein 1 Verbascum thapsus Hedge Bedstraw 2 Galium mollugo Hoary Plantain 2 Plantago media Lady's Bedstraw 3 Galium verum Meadow Buttercup 4 Ranunculus acris Musk Mallow 1 Malva moschata Ox-Eye Daisy 5 Leucanthermum vulgare Ragged Robin 1 Lychnis floscuculi St John's Wort 3 Hypericum perforatum Red Campion 8 Silene dioica Ribwort Plantain 5 Plantago lanceolata Selfheal 5 Prunella vulgaris Salad Burnet 4 Sanguisorba minor Wild Carrot 1 Daucus carota Wild Clary 2 Salvia verbanaca Wild Parsnip 6 Pastinaca sativa White Campion 4 Silene alba Wood Avens 2 Geum urbanun Yarrow 1 Achillea millefolium 90% Grasses Grass % Species Browntop Bent 5 Agrostis capillaris Chewings Fescue 35 Festuca rubra commutata Crested Dogstail 10 Cynosurus cristatus Meadow Foxtail 2 Alopercurus pratense Sweet Vernal Grass 1 Anthoxanthum odoratum Sheeps Fescue 10 Festuca ovina Smooth Stalked Meadow Grass 8 Poa pratensis Slender Creeping Red Fescue 15 Festuca rubra litoralis Salt Marsh Grass 4 Pucinella distans Rough Stalked Meadow Grass 8 Poa trivialis Yellow Oatgrass 2 Trisetum flavescens When to use: In general, the best time for sowing perennial wildflower seeds is late summer/autumn (late August-October) when there is likely to be consistent moisture and warmth without extremes of cold or dry. Spring (late March-May) is usually considered the next best time to sow perennial wildflower seed, particularly if the ground is likely to be waterlogged over the winter. Application Window Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec How to use: Prepare the ground New Seed Bed Overseeding Remove unwanted vegetation Cultivate the soil to a depth of 150 mm removing the stones and debris Level, then firm the seedbed Rake the surface to product a fine tilth Cut the grass short as possible and remove the clippings Remove excess thatch to allow the seed to reach the soil surface If compacted, aerate the soil Provide water If there has been little rainfall irrigate gently and slowly to fully wet through the soil profile Sow seed Sow seeds evenly using the correct sowing rate for the seed mix Because sowing rates for wildflower seed are low, it is usually helpful to mix the seed with a carrier material such as slightly damp sand Press the seeds into the soil using a roller or the back of a rake to ensure good seed to soil contact Provide water Keep the soil surface moist but not wet until the seeds have germinated AND established Irrigate slowly and gently to avoid disturbing the seeds Management & aftercare Suggested mowing regime Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year 1 Leave uncut unless growth is vigorous Cut and collect clippings Leave soil bare to allow germination and/or sow new seed Allow to flower and seed Leave uncut until spring Year 2 onwards Leave uncut unless growth is vigorous Cut and collect clippings Allow to flower and seed Cut and collect clippings Leave uncut unless growth is vigorous In March-May if ongoing management as a wildflower meadow is not required, you can alternatively simply cut and collect clippings, continuing to manage as long grass by cutting 1-3 times per year Many grasslands and meadows are traditionally managed by grazing but mowing and removing the clippings can be used to replicate the process of hay cutting and grazing. It is important to remove clippings to avoid nutrients being returned to the soil. Soils for wildflowers are usually low in nutrients to encourage species diversity.