Free BBC Countryfile 'Grow Wild' seeds, a good idea?

Hi,

I am REALLY new to gardening and have let my little garden get into a bit of a mess. So this year I want to make it into a lovely environment to not only enjoy but also for insects, butterflies and bees.

To that end when I saw I could get free wild flower seeds I thought what a wonderful idea (money is very tight as well so that was another reason!). They arrived today and I was reading the packet and it said not to be 'used in or near natural areas' which I thought was a bit odd?

I did a little digging (pardon the pun ) and all I could find was someone saying that buttercups (one of 12 different types of seeds in the packet) spread like wildfire. The last thing I need is for my newly tided and lovely nature garden to be over run with buttercups (and I don't my lovely neighbours would be too impressed either!). So I am now reluctant to sow them, can anyone expand on this please and if it is a real problem, particularly for a newbie please

Many thanks in advance, Lynne.

 

I have the same said packet but have just seeded a large pot to add a touch of variety to my small patch out back. Time will tell how they perform.
They contain.
corn chamomile
corn marigold
corn poppy
cornflower
hedge bedstraw
lady's bedstraw
lesser knapweed
meadow buttercup
oxeye daisy
red campion
ripwort plantain
Look like a good selection if only I could tell one from the other!

 

Many thanks for welcome and the information Wiseowl and Capney. I never thought of putting them in a put, but I only have two and they contain things already, but will keep that idea for the future if I am not sure about something, thank you

I will clear an area at the back near a brickwall and the fence and by the sounds of it Wiseowl they should be fine, so I will watch with interest to how they all grow, can't beat enjoying something you got for nothing

Many thanks again both. Lynne

 

HI Wiseowl, I was thinking that as well, although I will feel a bit of an idiot if they don't come up! but I will try to clear the ground and get them next weekend and cross fingers and toes they are the first part of my lovely new garden, thank you again for your advice, much appreciated.

 

Hi Barders, Speaking of free seeds Gardeners World on BBC2 seem to be giving them out every few weeks. It was tomatoes last month, and last Friday was sunflower seeds. Maybe worth watching out for them (but you have to be quick! I got straight online and think I got some, but the servers were really jammed).

 

I got mine a few days ago and chucked them onto the garden yesterday. I don't bother with marking an area and digging it over. It doesn't get that in the wild so why should it in my garden?

Most weeds are wildlife friendly too. I leave dandelions and nettles in place. As long as they don't seed and the bees use them then why waste my time pulling them out?

 

Many thanks Jane and Fyfy, I thought it was just the one lot Jane ,I will try when I get home later, fingers crossed

I like the sounds of not digging, but unfortunately I have a lot of weeds so will have to do some anyway, but good point about the wild, so will save my energy for something else in the garden, like cultivating nettles! I think I had cornered the market in them for Hampshire, so have had to remove quite a few, but will definitely leave an area with them Jane, thanks for that. Interestingly, I don't have any dandelions in the back, just a few in the front lawn, but I will watch out for those and leave them if they grow. Off to the dump to recycle the old fence this afternoon, getting there a bit at a time

 

Nettles are good for the compost bin too so if you have any you don't want sling them on there.

Once you start weeding you can begin to recognise weeds quite quickly, even before they get going.

 

Hi Jane, thank you for that. Actually, I don't have a compost yeet, but I would like to make a small wodden one in one corner I am going to clear and I would never think to put them in there, good one many thanks