Garden Q&A: What is the best time of year to sow wildflowers?

Whether you're a gardening beginner or expert, Irish Examiner columnist Peter Dowdall has the answer to your questions

These wildflowers show off their summer colours in Skibbereen, West Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

I believe March-April and September-October are the best times to sow a wildflower patch. I have just cleared an area and am wondering if I should hold off now until September. Some Irish websites say June is not too late if rain is expected. I am in Achill, Co Mayo, so rain is always expected!

ANSWER

This question came in during the summer but I am only getting to it now. The correct advice is to wait until September/October as these are the best months to sow. 

Yes, this year, you probably could have sown the seed anytime during the summer as we did have so much rain.

Wildflower seed mixes want to be sown on nutrient-poor soil — so no preparing with compost or plant food or any of that mollycoddling. 

Break the soil surface with a rake or similar to create a fine tilth for the seed to make contact with. 

If you want you can stand the seed lightly into the soil and this will help to prevent the seed from being blown away or eaten by wildlife. After that, it is down to water and Mother Nature.

Once the temperatures begin to drop in October it is time to stop sowing and hold off until the next sowing period which is March/April.

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