GARDENING: Give biodiversity a boost by creating an annual wildflower bed

May is such a treat! The cuckoos have arrived and bluebells scent the woods; it is a truly romantic month for nature lovers, and the notion of creating an annual wildflower bed is hard to resist.
In recent years, we have seen amazing displays of wildflower beds throughout the country – some of them on public ground – and it’s a delightful change from the usual begonias and pansies (though I think it’s mainly about variety selection and how you use them).
With more interest in nature preservation and diversity in recent years, many people want their own wildflower patch in their garden. So, how do you create an annual flower bed that’ll give you endless joy throughout the summer months?
While permanent meadow making with native perennial plants requires careful planning and patience, annual wildflower beds are simple and easy to achieve.
Annual plants have a lifespan of one year, surviving into autumn and then dying down in winter.
These plants include some varieties of poppies, cornflowers, calendulas (English marigolds), malva, wild carrots and the like. When you buy seeds for these, be aware that quite often the packet will include non-native wildflowers or cultivated varieties of wildflowers, such as daisies, cosmos and sunflowers.
Buy seed packets from a reliable seed seller. You can judge the varieties of the flowers from the photo on the package. Some cheap packets have less exciting varieties, so I suggest trying out a few different brands.
The best location to create the annual wildflower bed is a sunny and sheltered patch. To prepare, clear as many weeds from the area as you can, then rake the ground. Wild flowers don’t like rich soil, so you won’t need a lot of compost for this project.
Before you scatter the seeds, mix them with horticultural sand (1:4 parts) or fine compost, and scatter the mixture on the patch. It’s a good idea to seed well around the edges. If you have a windy site, erecting a willow fence or some other support around the edges will shelter the plants and allow them to grow straight, as these plants are not robust.
After scattering the seeds, firm the ground by walking on the seeded bed, then water. If the weather is dry, continue to regularly water the bed up to and after germination, which usually takes one to two weeks. If you can’t tell the seedlings apart from the weeds, it’s best to leave them until it becomes obvious.
It takes one to two months for the plants to flower – after that it’ll be non-stop until the first frost. Cutting the flowers from time to time will encourage flower production (otherwise they quickly go to seed and stop giving you more flowers). So, enjoy the fruits of your labour in the garden or in a vase in the house, or better yet, share them with your neighbours and friends.
If you would like to continue having an annual wildflower bed next year, cut back all the plants in the autumn, then cover the ground until next spring (for sustainable alternatives to plastic covering, check out Irish organic farm and garden specialists Fruithill Farm (fruithillfarm.com) – they sell 100 percent plant-based covering and black paper covering). This way, you won’t need to dig out any unwanted weeds in spring; it saves you energy and time of preparing the bed again.
The creation of the native perennial meadow is more challenging. For this, you’ll need more planning and commitment, and it might take as long as five to ten years. I will talk about this in my next article.

Jobs for May
1. Plant out dahlia tubers and cannas in a sunny position
2. Tie in the new shoots of climbing plants
3. Now the danger of frost has passed, prune shrubs and dead head hydrangeas
4. Prepare hanging baskets
5. Plant out summer bedding plants

Eriko Uehara Hopkinson is a member of the Clew Bay Garden Trail. A chain of beautiful and unique private gardens, the trail opens to the public during summer to raise funds for charity (see www.clewbaygardentrail.ie for more). Each month, an article by a trail member will appear in these pages.