Create your own patch of wildflower meadow in an old vintage drawer. Your wildlife haven will attract lots of beneficial insects and is both simple to make and easy to maintain.
TIME IT RIGHT Plant in early spring so that insects coming out of hibernation have an early nectar source. If you want to grow wildflowers from seed, sow these in either early spring or early fall.
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Paint your drawer with exterior paint and finish with a coat of marine varnish for extra protection, if you like. We painted our drawer to contrast with our display table.
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Drill several drainage holes in the base of the planter, spacing them evenly across the area.
3Cut to shape some thick black plastic to line the drawer, which will protect the wood and prevent it from rotting. Glue the liner into place around the sides.
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Add seed mix and fill to about
two-thirds of the height of the plastic liner. It is important to use seed mix— multipurpose mix is too rich in nutrients.
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Start to’1 plant your drawer.
Gently tease any pot-bound roots to give them a good start. Fill any gaps between plants with soil mix.
— Project Steps
RANTING NFS
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Care Advice
the meadow at any stage because wildflowers prefer soil low in nutrients.
General Care Remove any dead, diseased, or dying foliage during the growing season, but leave seedheads on until early to mid-fall so that plants self-seed naturally. Thin out or repot any excess seedlings in mid-spring. You will need to cut every plant down to just above soil level in mid-fall so that stems and foliage are not left on over the winter. This will increase nutrient levels and therefore reduce the amount of flowering the following year.
Bee and Butterfly
