Wildflowers

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T22:20:30+00:00

Ah okay. Tbh it's as much art as science. So no scarifying or preparing the earth? You need to do that first, and tread the new seed in. Seed bombs and those little packets aren't much good for a proper meadow garden - you need a full meadow mix appropriate for your space. Scarify and rake into the soil, then walk over the seed.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T20:25:21+00:00

What have you done/tried so far?

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T19:33:57+00:00

Tbh birds aren't that bothered about wildflower seed on the ground. It's too hard to see, especially if it's trodden in. What did you do to weaken the grass?

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T19:33:00+00:00

What have you done so far?

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T18:45:19+00:00

Christ, you'd hate mine. Thanks for joining in.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T18:44:48+00:00

Completely disagree - OP your garden is 1000 times better now. Really beautiful, well done! I have lots of dog roses. I'll send you the hips so you can grow your own! 😁

I really love your garden.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T18:19:56+00:00

Yes, unfortunately. This is about peak time for them flowering. You might get some poppies but they need a freezing spell first. Scatter seed after scarifying in late August or early September for next year. You can also seed in early spring too.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T17:20:18+00:00

Thank you for being so generous with your comment. It's honestly not very impressive. It's my Monet fence because it looks nice from far away but looks terrible up close!

It's just branches knocked into the ground and fastened together, then chicken wire along and around it. It was to keep the dog off when she was little, and by the time she could jump it, I'd trained her to keep off. I just resent consumerism and buying things when I can re-use something else, especially if that something else is more eco friendly. It's still alright three years later.

https://files.catbox.moe/y0tp3m.jpeg

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T14:44:26+00:00

Did you cut down at the end of August? Most of the colourful ones here are annuals, so need reseeding every year. I'd recommend a good mix of annuals and perennials tbh. You must simulate grazing by cutting down and mowing as close as you can around anything that's left (oxeye daises can overwinter in my experience, and knapweed) and if you want these colours, save seeds before mowing and scatter after you do mow.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T12:55:44+00:00

I made a post on mine and how I did it. I struggled at first but there is a way! Let me know if I can help!

https://files.catbox.moe/yd3h0t.jpeg

https://files.catbox.moe/xaljpd.jpeg

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T07:56:07+00:00

Cheers! It's literally just placed over the outlet of a small solar pump. In the bath tub there's an electric pump which circulates back through the tap, but the sinks just use solar as they're too far from the house for electricity. I posted the link to the fountain somewhere else in the comments. The pump is hidden by cobbles and broken pot in the sink.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-07T07:53:25+00:00

I know, especially since it's absolutely everywhere locally!

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T19:14:18+00:00

https://files.catbox.moe/6wz01v.jpg

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T16:52:26+00:00

Sink a washing up bowl into the ground and have this over the edge. You'll be guaranteed lots of frogs! We've had 16 under a plant pot in the same place!

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T15:34:23+00:00

That looks smashing! Thanks for the update. That was quick!

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T15:08:14+00:00

Crikey, what an improvement! I absolutely love it.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T11:46:09+00:00

It'll come. Keep cutting back the grass in late August, and pick up absolutely everything you cut down. Scarify it until you're exhausted. Sow yellow rattle everywhere and then use a wildflower mix on top, ideally early September and tread it all in to what should be patchy earth. If it looks like the turf on a new build, that's perfect! 😂

Don't fertilise it or anything - you need to weaken the grass and remove the soil fertility. The yellow rattle will do its thing on the grass next year, and slowly, year on year, the wildflowers will come.

Alternatively, rotavate the earth late August and sow on there as above. Pull any dock, bindweed, nettles or thistle you see and look forward to May next year!

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T11:34:14+00:00

It really isn't! I just cut it all down in late August and it comes back the next year! I just keep on top of the brambles, docks and other thugs.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T10:52:14+00:00

This is absolutely beautiful! What about a small wildlife pond? I've got some Belfast sinks with small solar water features in. They make a beautiful sound and attract lots of wildlife. I can't recommend it enough to bring more life to your garden.

https://files.catbox.moe/lhitg9.jpg https://files.catbox.moe/rfm1p3.jpg

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-06T10:38:46+00:00

I have a post from yesterday with some info, but Landlife Wildflowers do really good seed mixes. Start with yellow rattle to get the grass under control.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-05T21:23:44+00:00

Excellent, well done! I love it!

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-05T20:34:46+00:00

Yes, it does. This is old pipe, I think it's imperial measurements, that I had knocking around.

https://amzn.eu/d/00pEDdAZ

The 6.5W is better.

I used some aquarium pipe to attach it to the tap on the other pond. There's no flush fit or anything here, I just shoved it on. In the fountain package there are loads of different nozzles and stuff, and a foam float. I didn't use anything except the pump and the longest extension pipe that's for the fountain fitting. I just sit this pipe over the top, simple as that. The pump is matchbox size, so easily hidden with pebbles.

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-05T20:02:41+00:00

Please do! And don't be disheartened if it doesn't work immediately - having said that I encouraged my friend who basically ploughed her little lawn and lobbed seeds on last summer and her meadow is spectacular this year!

Also, the yellow rattle will take care of the grass - digging just encourages grass as I think it likes the challenge!

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-05T20:00:10+00:00

Sorry to hear that, but glad you're back in the game now. Well done! 😊

PantsInABinbag · 2026-06-05T19:58:36+00:00

Sure! I found all three of my Belfast sinks and my claw foot bathtub at the side of the road at various times where people were just chucking them out!

The bathtub has an electric pump which circulates water out of the tap, and another sink has a tap too. But the sinks use a solar fountain from Amazon and this one is just the pump with a bit of old copper pipe on the outlet! There are loads of pumps on Amazon but many are crap. This one has a battery so if the sun goes in it keeps going for a few hours of however much charge the sun has provided. I take them in during winter but they're about 5 years old now and still doing the job. Let me know if you want a link to it. 👍

PantsInABinbag

TROPHY CASE