IF you like your sward to be bowling green-pristine, look away now. In the height of summer our lawns, front and back, are largely left to grow long and are full of assorted wild flowers, native grasses and insects including many species of bees, butterflies, grasshoppers and beetles.
This is the first season where the front lawn has reached something approaching natural maturity, and for all its apparent wildness, it has taken a fair bit of research and several years to get where we are today.
You can buy ‘off the shelf’ wild seed mixes from many places but you are better off, and will get a more authentic result, by purchasing a grass and flower seed mix specifically designed to flourish on your soil’s pH and nutrient load.
Generic seeds tend to only include a few mainstream popular plants, which risk taking over from naturally-occurring plants. Tailored mixes are widely available online from companies such as Meadowmania (meadowmania.co.uk, 0800 0854 399 )and Landlife Flowers (wildflower.co.uk, 01205 281902).
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
To dig or not to dig?
Should we be carrying out a full dig on plots now? Bob considers the pros and cons of the 'autumn dig' debate
The box ball blues
As if his beleaguered box hadn't already taken a beating, Toby now has to deal with some hungry box caterpillars
Save your own seeds
Masterclass on: seed saving
Strange sightings
Three unusual insects turn up in Val's garden in one day
A bolt from the blue!
Cornflowers are perfect for garden and vase
Winter moth prevention
Ruth shows you how to avoid maggoty tree fruits
Create a winter container
There are as many options as in summer
Lightweight gardening tools
AS well as being good for our mental health, gardening is also great exercise.
Autumn price round-up
AG finds better bargains in lesser-known brands
Rudbeckias
Rudbeckias are ideal for sunny summer patios and borders, with some able to survive our coldest winters
