When to Lay Wildflower Turf – A Seasonal Guide

Introduction

In recent years the popularity of incorporating areas of wildflowers into domestic gardens, and as part of larger scale landscaping works, has continued to grow. Not only does the inclusion of wildflowers present a pleasing visual effect, but it also brings a range of benefits in terms of eco-diversity, providing much needed resources for bees, butterflies and insects. As a result, many are now championing this approach of including wildflowers.

Wildflower patches inevitably take up space that may have been previously managed with traditional grass turf or planting. Not wanting to be left behind, many turf companies have diversified their offering to include wildflower turf.

Much like conventional turf that comes in rolls of established grass, wildflower turf also comes with a well-established bed of flowers that are ready to spring to life once laid. The wildflower turf is grown on a biodegradable and plastic-free mat with different wildflowers grown into it. Once this is laid in the desired area, much like traditional turf, the plants root themselves deeper and the different wildflowers begin to grow.

Laying Wildflower Turf

If you are sold on the idea of creating your own patch of wildflowers in your garden, be it large or small, the approach to laying your wildflower turf will be the same. We have broken it down below into the key steps associated with this.

· Selecting your site

Before you can purchase your wildflower turf you will need to select an area and measure the size of it.

Unlike traditional grass, wildflower turf thrives on lesser quality soil. This means you can use it on patches where you may have struggled to provide coverage before. If you have a very specific area in mind and the soil is very rich you will need to consider how you can reduce this if required.

· Preparation

Any patch that is due to receive wildflower turf needs to be dug free of any existing grass or greenery. This may include digging out roots. Special care should be taken to dig out the roots of any perennial weeds which may have been on the site as they could reoccur and spoil the appearance of your wildflowers.

Once greenery is removed, using a rake, the area should be levelled as much as possible, and any large rocks removed. The wildflower turf can then be laid directly onto the top soil as it is a hardy product that can be laid onto any soil.

· Laying down the wildflower turf

Patches of wildflower turf are fairly dense and heavy and should ideally be carried by two people to avoid any risk of injury.

Patches should be placed directly onto the prepared ground. Each new patch should be butted directly against the next with no gaps. Where awkward shapes exist, a sharp Stanley knife can be used to trim any excess. Keep offcuts to fill any remaining gaps. As always, when using sharp tools make sure you take appropriate safety precautions, such as wearing working gloves.

· Watering

Once your Lindum wildflower turf has been laid, it is essential the whole area is thoroughly watered. This must be repeated and the turf should not be allowed to dry out fully until there are signs the roots have penetrated and the wildflower turf is established. In particularly hot countries this may necessitate the use of a sprinkler or automated watering system.

Best Time to Lay Wildflower Turf

Wildflower turf is hardy and can be very forgiving if the appropriate preparation and laying work is undertaken. This means the turf can effectively be laid throughout most of the year, as long as the ground is not frozen.

Just because you can lay it throughout the year doesn’t mean there aren’t some factors to consider on what time of year you dive in. Read on below to understand the pros and cons regarding the different times of year you may wish to lay your wildflower turf.

Laying Wildflower Turf in Spring

For the novice gardener or those with only the slightest tinge of green fingers, Spring can seem synonymous with gardens bursting into life after the cold weather and dark days of winter. The more initiated know that often weeks and months of preparation come before this seemingly magical re-awakening.

Given the adaptability of wildflower turf, you have not missed the bus if you decide in Spring that you want to embark on this project. By spring the ground has thawed and we may not be experiencing the harsh dryness of our increasingly hotter summers.

· Pros of laying wildflower turf in Spring

o Longer daylight and warmer temperatures to undertake the preparation work

o Good availability of water for bedding in your turf

o Adequate time for your wildflower patch to develop and so that it looks great for summer evenings.

· Cons of laying wildflower turf in Spring

o Prepping the area can be trickier as weeds may not have fully sprouted making it harder to know if you have fully cleared the area before laying your turf.

o While a wildflower turf does establish itself fairly quickly, it will not be as bright until later in the season so you may not benefit from it on Spring days.

Laying Wildflower Turf in Summer

Some may decide to tackle their wildflower turf in summer given the longer hours of daylight and the wish to avoid any sudden late freezes. Summer can also be the time when people feel the need to improve their garden as they look to use it for socialising on the warmer evenings and longer days.

· Pros of laying wildflower turf in Summer

o You may have vacation days or more time in sunny summer evenings to take on a gardening project.

o You still have time for your wildflower patch to be well established ahead of the winter freeze.

o It can be easier to see any weeds or grasses that need to be dug out of the area where you will be laying your turf.

· Cons of laying wildflower turf in Summer

o The biggest challenge will be ensuring you have sufficient water to keep your newly laid turf from drying out.

o If temperatures really soar, you may need to re-water much more often than laying your turf at another time of the year.

o If you miss watering your turf it can quickly dry out and may not seed.

Laying Lindum Wildflower Turf in Winter

Choosing to lay your wildflower turf in winter is not impossible but likely takes the most planning compared to other times of the year. Wildflower turf is a robust product that will slowly establish during winter and a frost won’t damage it. The key challenge is making sure you don’t lay it while the ground is frozen.

· Pros of laying wildflower turf in Winter

o You will have a wildflower area that is fully embedded and will be able to really dazzle when you hit spring and summer of the following year.

o Depending on where you live, the damp and wetter weather associated with the winter months may reduce your watering requirements.

· Cons of laying wildflower turf in Winter

o Undertaking the prep work on sodden or frozen ground can be difficult.

In Summary

Lindum Wildflower turf offers a means of covering patches of sub-par soil into eco-friendly, aesthetically pleasing patches of wildflowers. With proper preparation it can be laid at nearly any time of the year making it a great option for a weekend project or some unexpected free time.

It offers a low maintenance burst of colour, while having the added benefit of encouraging bees and insects into your garden which may benefit other plants you have.