South Africa has some gorgeous wild flowers that aren’t just beautiful to look at, they play an important role in the environment, helping to keep the soil healthy and providing pollination for wildlife.
it’s essential that wildflowers are protected and preserved whether in grass verges in urban areas or out in the open countryside. Roots of wildflowers help stabilise the soil and retain natural nutrients, improving soil health and preventing erosion.
Wildflowers also play a large part in providing bees, butterflies and other pollinators with food sources throughout the seasons. Pollinators then go on to pollinate vegetables and fruits, ensuring a good healthy crop for both farmers and gardeners alike, helping to combat damage by crop and plant pests. In winter, wildflowers are a valuable source of food to birds and small mammals with their seeds.
By dedicating a small area, or even landscaping an extension of nature in a large garden to grow a wildflower meadow or patch gardeners can make real difference to the environment
Seeds are best purchased from wildflower seed providers who can advise on different varieties. Wildflowers do not need fertiliser and thrive in poor soil, so once an area has been cleared and any weeds removed rake the area smooth then the selected wildflower seeds can be scattered by hand, raked in lightly then watered thoroughly.
Keep the soil moist until the seeds have germinated. Deadhead flowers as they fade to prolong flowering, then, at the end of the season, leave the plants to self seed. Remove any ‘old’ unwanted weeds, as they will soon take over!
