Bumblebee seed mix, when and how to sow ?

[Mozzie]

I've just bought some Bumblebee wild flower seed mix;



Species included:Balsam,Indian; Betony; Birds-Foot-Trefoil,Common; Burdock, Greater and Lesser; Campion, Red; Charlock; Clover, Red; Comfrey, Common; Dandelion; Dead-nettle, White; Foxglove; Horehound, Black; Hound's-tongue; Knapweed, Common and Greater; Melilot, Ribbed; Mullein, Dark and Great; Pansy, Field and Wild; Poppy, Common; Purple-Loosestrife; St. John's Wort, Common; Sage, Wood; Teasel; Thistle, Cotton; Toadflax, Common; Vetch, Kidney and Tufted; Viper's-Bugloss; Woundwort, Hedge


It says sow late March to May. I want to sow on an area of mown lawn.
Should I , remove the turf and rotivate first or just remove the turf. Or maybe I should just scatter the seeds without doing either ? Anybody any ideas ?

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by Mozzie

...I want to sow on an area of mown lawn.
Should I , remove the turf and rotivate first or just remove the turf. Or maybe I should just scatter the seeds without doing either ? Anybody any ideas ?...

I think your suggestion of removing the turf and rotivating sounds best. You don't want the wild flower seeds to be competing with the established grass turf. At best, the lawn would weaken their progress, at worst they may not survive germination.

Sounds like a good project so I hope all goes well. (Send some pics in when everything is in flower).

Edit - PS: don't use any fertiliser - wild flowers generally fare better in poorer soil.

Best regards
Mike.

[JennyS]

I want to sow on an area of mown lawn

Hi Mozzie,

Not sure what your general garden plan is but some of those plants will grow pretty tall and chunky and aren't too suitable for mowing to create a 'wildflower meadow' sort of effect.

With that mix you'd probably do better to create a border / flower bed. Remove the grass sod from the area you decide to use and dig or rotovate. Then sow the seeds into the clean ground.
If you make a stacked heap with the cleared grass sods and cover it for a year or two you'll get a useful pile of soil to use......

(Just a thought bearing in mind several previous threads - Indian Balsam can be another name for Himalayan Balsam.......... )

[Lancashire Lad]

Originally Posted by JennyS

......(Just a thought bearing in mind several previous threads - Indian Balsam can be another name for Himalayan Balsam.......... )

Well spotted JennyS.

If I were you Mozzie, I would check with your seed supplier exactly what sort of Balsam you've got.

If it turns out to be "the" Indian Balsam, which is indeed the same thing as Himalayan Balsam, I wouldn't let it anywhere near my garden.

Regards
Mike.

[Mozzie]

Originally Posted by Lancashire Lad

Well spotted JennyS.

If I were you Mozzie, I would check with your seed supplier exactly what sort of Balsam you've got.

If it turns out to be "the" Indian Balsam, which is indeed the same thing as Himalayan Balsam, I wouldn't let it anywhere near my garden.

Regards
Mike.

Ok thanks I'll check. Got some Phacelia tanacetifolia as well,which is REALLY good for bees and is easy to sow.

[Jez]

I'm very surprized that Himalayan Balsam has been included in the mixture. This will easy outcompete the other plants, probably to a point where all you end up with is Himalayan Balsam! Disapointing really since the rest of the seed mixture sounds bang on!

[Cotham Marble]

I suggest you post this on the Wildlife Gardening forum - there have been many discussion about 'wildflower' meadows etc there and you are more likely to get the attention of the more knowledgeable gardeners.

All in all this 'bumble mix' sounds full of problems to me and perhaps has more to do with selling seeds than actually achieving a functioning garden that supports wildlife.

CM

[Jez]

Originally Posted by Cotham Marble

I suggest you post this on the Wildlife Gardening forum - there have been many discussion about 'wildflower' meadows etc there and you are more likely to get the attention of the more knowledgeable gardeners.

All in all this 'bumble mix' sounds full of problems to me and perhaps has more to do with selling seeds than actually achieving a functioning garden that supports wildlife.

CM

I'll certainly be all too happy to help! There are a few question I'd like to ask, answer & suggest if I may, Mozzie?? If your up for it I'll keep an eye out :EEK: lol, on the wildlife gardening forums!

Kind Regards

Jez

[Mozzie]

Originally Posted by Jez

I'll certainly be all too happy to help! There are a few question I'd like to ask, answer & suggest if I may, Mozzie?? If your up for it I'll keep an eye out :EEK: lol, on the wildlife gardening forums!

Kind Regards

Jez

yes please, I'll do as you suggest and post on the wildlife gardening forum. Thanks

[Mozzie]

Just spoken to the seed suppliers and the Balsam has been removed, although they have'nt as yet updated their website.