Wild flower garden - first attempt

[413x]

This is a thread to track (for better or worse) my attempt at a wild flower garden.

I was quite sick earlier in the year so I've seeded much later than ideal so I'm not expecting a miracle.


Its a roughly 1m*5m (not measured) strip of land in front garden. Was grass.
I out carpet across the lawn over winter to kill everything off.
Then I turned the soil.. With a spade! Then heavy raked it.
Then watered, seeded, and watered again!

Seeded it last night.


Currently looks like this!

Update : 2nd July 2023

Update: 19th July.
Really looking good now. Didn't expect this on my first go. Clearing the grass made a huge difference!

 

[Richie]

I have done the same this year...

Last year I planted a Kilmarnock Willow tree in the area which is a dwarfing variety and won't go much taller than it currently is (about 3-4 feet high) and then covered the soil in sheeting over Winter to kill the grasses/weeds off.

I also stuck up a couple of bird boxes last year and one of these got used within weeks so that's encouraging... I'll need to check again this year to see if they are being used (trying not to disturb them during nesting season)

Around March, I transplanted some snowdrops and bluebells to the area from parent's garden as well which should hopefully mutliply each year (snowdrops have now died back as expected but the bluebells are out). This should give me some early colour from Jan/Feb before dying back as the wildflowers take over...

It's taken a while for anything to even poke it's head out (5-6 weeks) due to the cold weather and wildly fluctuating temps but things are slowly coming through now it's warming up.

I'll take a couple of pics later when I get home


Looking forward to seeing how your's goes.... The one thing to bear in mind - don't get discouraged with this year's growth. They will come back much better and quicker next year as they will be established. It's really year 2 onwards that you will see proper thickly growing areas.

 

[413x]

I have done the same this year...

Last year I planted a Kilmarnock Willow tree in the area which is a dwarfing variety and won't go much taller than it currently is (about 3-4 feet high) and then covered the soil in sheeting over Winter to kill the grasses/weeds off.

I also stuck up a couple of bird boxes last year and one of these got used within weeks so that's encouraging... I'll need to check again this year to see if they are being used (trying not to disturb them during nesting season)

Around March, I transplanted some snowdrops and bluebells to the area from parent's garden as well which should hopefully mutliply each year (snowdrops have now died back as expected but the bluebells are out). This should give me some early colour from Jan/Feb before dying back as the wildflowers take over...

It's taken a while for anything to even poke it's head out (5-6 weeks) due to the cold weather and wildly fluctuating temps but things are slowly coming through now it's warming up.

I'll take a couple of pics later when I get home


The one thing to bear in mind - don't get discouraged with this year's growth. They will come back much better and quicker next year as they will be established. It's really year 2 onwards that you will see proper thickly growing areas.

Yeah I've seen a few "not like the packet" first year attempts. Especially as this is late.

I'm well experienced in gardening/plants/nature so not expecting award winngin displays.

This mix is particularly eclectic. About 26 species in the mix. Geared for pollinators.


I expect ill have to reseed as many might not even grow.

Pics would be great

 

[Richie]

Aye, same here regarding sowing more next year... I may sow some in plug trays and ger.inate indoors next year to get them going and then transplant them into any bare spots.

 

[Richie]

Some images as it stands just now... You can possibly see where the snowdrops have died back but the bluebells are up and out (both should be better next year once they go back down and come up as only planted a few weeks ago before they bloomed)

Got a couple of old logs and stacked them up for the bugs to use (and feed the birds) as well.


I thought I would check the bird boxes to see if they are getting used. Only checked one at the back as, when I lifted the lid, I got a shock as about 4-6 tiny pink things looked up and started tweeting

I was going to go back and take a pic but I noticed a bird close by and didn't want to freak it out in case it abandoned it's chicks... Sure enough, I watched behind the blinds as it went into the box.

I'll leave it well alone....

Good to know that one is 2/2 for it being used (twice in 2 years).

 

[Richie]

So I thought I'd have another look at the nest box because I'm a nosey bugger.. I lifted the lid and...

Looks like I have a Great Tit in my box (pfnar pfnar) with it's chicks.

 

[Throrik]

Fantastic looking tit there.

I recommend getting a video setup for the next nesting season, proper fun watching them. After all what's better than a picture of a tit than a video of a number of ****.

 

[413x]

So I thought I'd have another look at the nest box because I'm a nosey bugger.. I lifted the lid and...

Looks like I have a Great Tit in my box (pfnar pfnar) with it's chicks.

Hopefully it hasn't been disturbed! Is it still coming back?

 

[Richie]

Yeah still coming back I didn't look in, I lifted the lid and poked camera phone over the edge and took picture.

I won't be disturbing it again.

 

[413x]

Yeah still coming back I didn't look in, I lifted the lid and poked camera phone over the edge and took picture.

I won't be disturbing it again.

Glad they are still coming back. My box is empty. Going to try and move it. Although have 2 huge oak trees isn't much hedge in garden might be why!

 

[Richie]

There must be 2 parents feeding them... Sitting in my kitchen just now so I can watch and it took a few mins but it came back and, almost as soon as it go there, 1 adult flew out the box and the other adult flew straight in.

Just happened again (1 in 1 out)... Must be dinner time

Quite fun to watch actually

 

[413x]

My seeds are germinating.
Having to pull a few thistles out. Didn't get rid of all the root stock. But they are obvious and would dominate if left.

Back garden is teaming with bugs! In evening can see swarms of them under the oaks. Probably why we get the bats.

Quite a few butterflies. Speckled Woods and large whites. Even an orange tip.


And got bees nesting!

 

[Richie]

Nice... I'm contemplating swapping the 2nd birdbox for a bug hotel as well... Birds don't really like bird boxes too close together which is probably why the 2ne one isn't getting used.

Good early germination on the wildflowers... Mine took about 5 weeks but about 3 of them was likely due to the colder weather even right up until mid-May .

My issue is grasses coming through but I'm pulling them out every now and then... Hopefully when the Yellow Rattle gets going, it'll keep the grasses in check.

 

[413x]

Nice... I'm contemplating swapping the 2nd birdbox for a bug hotel as well... Birds don't really like bird boxes too close together which is probably why the 2ne one isn't getting used.

Good early germination on the wildflowers... Mine took about 5 weeks but about 3 of them was likely due to the colder weather even right up until mid-May .

My issue is grasses coming through but I'm pulling them out every now and then... Hopefully when the Yellow Rattle gets going, it'll keep the grasses in check.

Yeah with this heat and my diligence watering they are sprouting already.

Don't think it will be long before can't tell new unwanted growth from wanted.

Might get another small pack of seeds. I spread by hand and I expect I'll have gaps. There's a particularly dense part where I sprinkled too densly!

Yeah I don't think I. Missed out as much with the late seed as the heat has only just kicked off.

 

[Richie]

Things have started taking off in the heat... Still plenty of bare areas but it's coming on

Little pansy in the last image... Strange thing is, I didn't sow or plant any Must have came in on a bird or something.

Speaking of birds... These little buggers have fair grown in 2 weeks from the tiny pink blobs to peeking out the bird box:

Will likely fledge in about a week....

Noisy little things as well when the parents come back with food. I can hear them in the house if I have the back door open and that's about 40 feet away in my living room.



Edit - one of them actually came right out. I thought it was going to fall onto the garden below as one of its siblings was pushing it away from the entrance as a parent came back with food... It managed to flutter an regain its grip before diving back in (probably to give it's sibling a doing )

Edit 2: Well not good news now... Seems a crow has realised there is chicks in there and has nabbed one and ate it ... Has tried to come back for more. Perched right on the top of the box but managed to chase it off for now

 

[Doobedoo]

I was watching a YouTube video on crows the other day, incredibly clever little buggers that understood water displacement.

Looking to do something similar out the front of my place, although I’ve decided to wait until autumn to sow my seeds to give them a better chance next year.

 

[CaptainRAVE]

We had robins in the robin nest box of all places, they’ve left now I think. Blue **** nesting front and back of house, think they’ve also gone. The bird feeder was very active for a few weeks, but has settled down now. Also added a squirrel feeder that has kept the squirrels occupied.

This guy decided the floor was adequate:


Added a hedgehog feeding station a few weeks back that has seen almost nightly visits from hedgehogs and various foxes. I think either the foxes or hedgehogs are living under our shed decking. The hole is too big for rats and haven’t seen any:



Trying to do my bit.

Even managed to get the hedgehog and fox in the same shot.

 

[Richie]

I was watching a YouTube video on crows the other day, incredibly clever little buggers that understood water displacement.

It came back this morning but I was there so chased it away... Not sure what will happen this week as I'm at work. Such is life.

It sits on the roof of the box (nowhere else for it to perch) and reaches down with its beak I to the hole. I'm looking at a row of those bird spikes you see on buildings for pigeons etc. 4" long should stop them being able to perch on the roof and reach over without getting a little sharp poke in the belly but won't interfere with the nesting birds.

 

[Doobedoo]

This was the video. I know they renowned for being intelligent but it was amazing to see it in action.

 

[413x]

Things have started taking off in the heat... Still plenty of bare areas but it's coming on

Little pansy in the last image... Strange thing is, I didn't sow or plant any Must have came in on a bird or something.

Speaking of birds... These little buggers have fair grown in 2 weeks from the tiny pink blobs to peeking out the bird box:

Will likely fledge in about a week....

Noisy little things as well when the parents come back with food. I can hear them in the house if I have the back door open and that's about 40 feet away in my living room.



Edit - one of them actually came right out. I thought it was going to fall onto the garden below as one of its siblings was pushing it away from the entrance as a parent came back with food... It managed to flutter an regain its grip before diving back in (probably to give it's sibling a doing )

Edit 2: Well not good news now... Seems a crow has realised there is chicks in there and has nabbed one and ate it ... Has tried to come back for more. Perched right on the top of the box but managed to chase it off for now

Crows are. So intelligent too. It's nature but it's horrible to see.