Planting wildflower seeds

Hi everyone,

I have recently had a small bed put in when having my driveway block paved, as you can see from the attached photograph. In spring, I want to sew some wildflower seeds - tansy, knapweed, teasel, borage, etc., to attract bees. Is it simply a case of scattering them randomly? Should I throw lots down and then thin out the seeds when they start to grow? I've only every sewn seeds in pots, so any advice will be helpful!

Also, has anybody every grown cosmos from seed in pots? I want to do this when spring arrives.

Thanks,

Phil.

 

I'd put the seeds in the fridge for a week or so, make them think they've had a winter before scattering & raking in.

The birds will have some away so yes, probably best to sow and then thin. Should look nice

 

Yes, scatter them randomly Phil and then thin them out. It's also a case of some for flowers, some for failures and some for the birds!

Cosmos tend to grow quite large in height and spread and even in a large pot they would be cramped.

 

can i do the same with seeds under a small fir tree, just sprikle them

 

It depends on what type of seed Tony and whether there's enough soil for them to develop. Quite often roots of trees of the conifer family take over the ground, they also deplete the soil of nutrients and water. If you're happy to take the risk of the seed not germinating then it's worth trying.

 

thanks sheal i think its wort a try

 

Hi Tony, welcome to GC!
Under a conifer/fir tree is not an ideal place. Most conifers actually kill any growth beneath them. I would look for another location.
I am sowing some wild meadow seeds later this month. I get about a half bucket full of very dry top soil or sharp sand, and mix the seeds into this. I then put some of this mix on a shovel and brush it off with my hand over the area I am planting, repeat until all the mix is gone. This spreads the wild seeds out and minimises clumping

 

Hi
are you doing that onto prepared ground, or can i be lazy and do the same onto the bottom half of my grass

Tony