Peter Dowdall: How to create a wildlfower garden rich in biodiversity

'We must manage expectations when planting a native wildflower mix. What emerges might not be a Hallmark image of a meadow, but something that looks more like a ditch, and that’s exactly the point'

When we think of wildflowers, we often picture a meadow-like patch bursting with colour all summer long. File pictures

When we talk about wildflowers, it’s easy to picture a vibrant, meadow-like patch bursting with colour all summer long, bees buzzing, butterflies flitting, grasses swaying in the breeze. That image sells packets of seeds, certainly, but it’s not the full story. In fact, for many people who have tried to create a wildflower area in their garden, it ends in frustration. The seeds are scattered, the expectations are high, and then — not much happens. Or worse, a patch of tall grass and thistle appears, and they wonder what went wrong.

The truth is, wildflower gardening is not quite as easy as the toss-and-grow that we sometimes imagine. It takes planning, patience, and most importantly, an understanding of what we mean when we say “wildflower” because not all wildflower mixes are the same, and not all wildflower gardens are created equal.