Do you have an area of your garden where you would like to have a more natural look?

Perhaps it has poor soil, is on a steep slope, or the ground is too dry so nothing thrives there.

A wildflower meadow area could be an option and also creates a perfect habitat for bees, butterflies, birds and small mammals to find refuge and a ready food supply.

Meadow flowers tend to peak in the summer but you can extend the period of interest by introducing spring bulbs such as wild daffodils, and snakeshead fritillaries and for autumn, autumn crocus and star-flowered quamash.

If you are sowing seed on to an unturfed piece of land, you will need to clear the ground of all perennial weeds such as couch grass, rye grass, thistles and docks either by hand or if a larger area, by spraying.

Dig over the area, then rake to a fine tilth. Allow the annual weeds to germinate then hoe them.

If you are choosing a flower and grass mix make sure you include Yellow Rattle as this will reduce the strength of adjacent competing grasses allowing the more delicate/colourful wild flowers to thrive.

After sowing the seed at the recommended rate, rake it in.

You will need to be patient as some will not flower for a couple of years.

Annual meadows need cutting back in late summer or autumn once flowering has finished and plants have died back.

For maintenance of perennial spring flowering meadows cut back in July and for the rest of the summer to control grass growth, leave the cuttings for a couple of days to allow seeds to drop before collecting and composting.