Sowing Sowing should take place from mid-April to late June. If sown too early, the summer flowers will not germinate due to the low soil temperatures and will then be smothered by early-germinating grasses and weeds. Ideal is to wait for the existing weeds to germinate before sowing (see soil preparation). The recommended sowing density should be closely adhered to, since otherwise faster germinating varieties could suppress slower varieties. To make it easier to handle the quantities of seed, washed sand, soy meal or vermiculite can be mixed with it as a sowing aid. The sown seeds shouldn’t be raked too deep into the soil (at the most, the back of the rake can be pulled flat over the surface). To maintain soil contact, going over the sown seeds with a roller is recommended. Sufficient moisture is essential during the germination phase for the fast flowering. Watering is recommended during longer dry spells in particular. After germination, depending on the soil condition, fertiliser can be applied. Preparing the ground To allow for the optimal initial development, the soil should be as free from seed and root weeds as possible. The seeding bed has to be fine grained and loose for sowing. This can be achieved by milling, furrowing and processing with a rotary harrow. The soil should be evenly worked to a depth of 15-30 cm. If existing grassy areas are to be converted, a rotary cutter is a good tool to use, since it will save having to carrying away the sod. When the seed bed can be prepared far enough in advance, sprouted weeds can be eliminated again before seeding by means of shallow tillage or herbicides. To prevent weed seeds from germinating (e.g. in the case of unknown soils or millet-corrupted crop land), a weed-free topsoil (e.g. seeding soil, 0-type soil, garden soil) can be applied after aeration in a layer that is at least 3 cm in depth. This layer will keep light-dependent germinators such as orach and millet in the dark. Adding fertiliser at the time of tilling is not necessary. Care After setting, the plants will need little care and maintenance. If, despite all measures taken, weeds are still suppressing the summer flowers, a “cleaning” cut to a height of around 15-20 cm is recommended. This will give the summer flowers a chance to develop further. In longer dry periods, flowering can drop off but will often pick up again in the autumn with the onset of more precipitation. After flowering, often after the first frost, the areas can be mowed. The clippings should be lifted in the case of perennial mixes to avoid mulching. TIPS FOR SOWING & MAINTENANCE 44
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