Monthly Archives: September 2013

Sowing American style annual meadows. In principle these are similar to sowing standard cornfield annual mixes.

Mustard Seed

Sowing time	March, April, May, June, July, August, September.
Growing period:	1-2 months
Ideal Soil Type:	Most.
Nitrogen fixer:	No.
How to Sow:	Prepare the soil by roughly digging it over and removing any weeds. Lightly tread the soil, and then sow the seeds by broadcast sowing (i.e. scattering evenly) for good coverage.. Rake the soil and water well. In dry periods you may need to water until the green manure is established.
Care:	The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.
Sow Rate:	4.5 grams per square metre.

 

 

Phacelia

Sowing time	March, April, May, June, July, August, September.
Growing period:	1-3 months.
Ideal Soil Type:	Dry, Most.
Nitrogen fixer:	No.
How to Sow:	Remove weeds especially perennials, rake the soil and scatter the seed at a rate of 1g per sq m. Dig in to a depth of 1cm and lightly water in.
Care:	The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.
Sow Rate:	1 gram per square metre.

Alfalfa (Lucerne) seed

Sowing time	April, May, June, July.
Growing period:	2-3 months or up to 1 year for overwintering.
Ideal Soil Type:	Most soil types
Nitrogen fixer:	Yes
How to Sow:	Prepare the soil by roughly digging it over and removing any weeds. Lightly tread the soil, and then sow the seeds by broadcast sowing (i.e. scattering evenly) for good coverage. Rake the soil and water well. In dry periods you may need to water until the green manure is established.
Care:	The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.
Sow Rate:	2.5 grams per square metre.

Italian ryegrass

Sowing time	March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October.
Growing period:	3-24 months
Ideal Soil Type:	Most.
Nitrogen fixer:	No.
How to Sow:	Prepare the soil by roughly digging it over and removing any weeds. Lightly tread the soil, and then sow the seeds by broadcast sowing (i.e. scattering evenly) for good coverage. Rake the soil and water well. In dry periods you may need to water until the green manure is established.
Care:	The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.
Sow Rate:	10 grams per square metre.

White ,  and Wild white and clover seed blends

Sowing time	March, April, May, June, July, August.
Growing period:	6 months or 2-5 years.
Ideal Soil Type:	Silt loam & clay soils
Nitrogen fixer:	Yes.
How to Sow:	Clear weeds especially perennials ones, rake the soil to a fine tilth and broadcast sow seeds at a rate of 1.5g per sq m. Rake in to a depth of 0.5cm, firm soil and lightly water. Keep moist to help germination.
Care:	The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.
Sow Rate:	1.5 grams per square metre.

 

Red clover

 

Sowing time	April, May, June, July, August, September.
Growing period:	3-18 months.
Ideal Soil Type:	Loam or sandy soil
Nitrogen fixer:	Yes.
How to Sow:	Prepare the soil by roughly digging it over and removing any weeds. Lightly tread the soil, and then sow the seeds by broadcast sowing (i.e. scattering evenly) for good coverage. Rake the soil and water well. In dry periods you may need to water until the green manure is established.
Care:	The green manure should be cut down before flowering when the stems are nice and soft as they decompose quicker, retain more beneficial nutrients and are easier to incorporate into the soil. They can be dug into the soil by turning over into the top 15cms or left on the top as a mulch, the worms will drag down the organic matter and help to aerate the soil.
Sow Rate:	2 grams per square metre.

Native Hedging

If the weather is unsuitable for planting on receiving the hedging then dig a hole and bury the roots of the bunched plants. (storage prior to this should be inside away from possible frosts.) They can be stored like this until planting becomes possible.

When planting you either plant them in a single row 4 per metre. Or a double staggered row 6 per metre. The easiest way is to dig a trench down to the required depth. They need to be planted to the same depth as you can see above the roots on the whips. Place the whips in the ground spreading the roots out carefully. Then backfill so they are secure in the ground. Water the ground then leave.

After planting it is advantageous to mulch the hedge with lawn mowings or leafmould to suppress weeds. If preferred this can be done using plastic or carpet ground cover placed around the plants and covered with soil.

All the species in a wildlife hedge can be cut back or ‘coppiced’ without harm, in the first year after establishment, the hedge can be cut back to stimulate the growth of the hedge from the base. Thereafter cut every 2 –3 years. the best time to cut is in spring after wildlife has benefited from berries etc as a food source and before birds start to nest.