There are many good reasons for creating a wild meadow: Not only is such a carpet of flowers a very pleasing sight, this meadow also offers numerous endangered animal and plant species an ecological shelter. Natural wildflower meadows have become extremely rare in our industrial agricultural landscape - and therefore all the more important for the local flora and fauna.
Wild meadows want to grow undisturbed
Wild meadows have a very large variety of species - more than 100 different flowers and herbs can thrive on a poor meadow. However, this only applies if you leave the meadow alone as far as possible. In particular, poor meadows should not be fertilized or processed in any other way, only mowing once or twice a year is appropriate. Wild meadows need a lot of rest for undisturbed growth - after all, these are "wild" cultivated plants that are not used to all-round care. However, you need a little patience until the newly created meadow has turned into a lush sea of flowers. The plants need an average of between three and five years to establish themselves in their new biotope. Until then, you may have to overseed from time to time.
Preparation of the ground
The easiest way to create a wild meadow is if you do not simply sow the seed mixture on an existing meadow or lawn - grass is extremely assertive and will repeatedly crowd out the more sensitive wild plants due to its rapid growth. Therefore, prepare the soil before sowing as follows:
- Mow the grass as short as possible.
- Remove the top layer of soil, for example with a flat spade or by tilling.
- Also carefully remove any roots that you can get hold of.
- Dig up the ground.
- If you want to create a poor meadow, you must also thin the soil.
- For this purpose, mix additional sand into the soil.
- Acid soils are neutralized with lime.
- Rake and rake the area nice and flat so that the topsoil is as fine as possible.
Make sure that the location for the future wild meadow is as sunny as possible.
Sow flower seeds
Once the preparations are complete, you can start sowing the wildflower seeds. Most wild flowers and herbs are light germinators, i. H. they should not be covered with soil, but simply pressed down a little. On the other hand, many wild plants belong to the so-called cold germs, which do not emerge within a few days after sowing, but only after the winter or a longer cold period. Proceed as follows when sowing:
- Mix the seeds, which are usually very fine, with a spreading aid (e.g. fine sand).
- This allows for a better distribution of the seeds.
- Scatter the seeds widely.
- Press the seeds firmly into the soil using a harrow, the blade of a hoe, or boards tied under your shoes.
- Keep the meadow area as moist as possible.
If possible, do not buy standard wild meadow mixtures in the garden center. These seed mixtures usually do not contain game, but a colorful mixture of cultivated plants - most of which are not even native. It is better to use special seed mixtures (which often even correspond to the regional flora) from specialist shops.
tips and tricks
About one to two grams of seeds are expected per square meter. However, it is better to sow more seeds, because the germination rate of wild plants is significantly lower than that of cultivated plants.