Sowing American style annual meadows
Posted on September 4, 2013
This post was posted in Advice about Growing Wild Flowers
Monthly Archives: September 2013
Mustard & Phacelia for Green manure
Posted on September 4, 2013
Mustard Seed
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. |
This post was posted in Advice on Clovers & Green Manures
Lucerne and Italian Ryegrass for Green Manure
Posted on September 4, 2013
Alfalfa (Lucerne) seed
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. |
This post was posted in Advice on Clovers & Green Manures
Clover for Green Manure
Posted on September 4, 2013
White , and Wild white and clover seed blends
white clover seed| 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. |
This post was posted in Advice on Clovers & Green Manures
Native Hedging How to Establish and Maintain it.
Posted on September 4, 2013
Native Hedging
Native hedgingIF THE WEATHER IS UNSUITABLE FOR PLANTING NATIVE HEDGING ON RECEIVING THE HEDGING, 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. 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 WILDFLIFE HEDGE CAN BE CUT BACK OR ‘COPPICED’ WITHOUT HARM, IN THE FIRST YEAR AFTER ESTABLISHMENT THE HEDGE CAN BE CUT BACK TO STIMULATE GROWTH OF THE HEDGE FROM THE BASE. THEREAFTER CUT EVERY 2 –3 YEARS. THE BEST TIME TO CUT IS IN SPRING AFTER WILDLIFE HAVE BENIFITTED FROM BERRIES ETC AS FOOD SOURCE AND BEFORE BIRDS START TO NEST.
This post was posted in Advice on Hedging
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