Turf/grass and 'wild' flowers

[Poddington Pea]

Hi all,

My query is 2 fold;
Firstly, I'm creating a bit of interest in the 'children's area' of the garden, at the moment it's a fenced off rectangle with a swing in it! I went out this evening and took the turf off an area to create a digging patch and would like to use what I've removed to cover a jumping mound I'm creating. Trouble is, I've gotton quite good at removing turf now and I think maybe the roots will be too damaged for the grass to survive? Do you think it'll just keep growing regardless of the damage I've caused?
Secondly, I would like to sow some 'wild' flowers, hollyhocks, foxgloves, and a bumble bee mix (I have no idea what's in it!) across an area of lawn. Do I need to cultivate the ground first or, as these flowers are ussually self-seeding, will they be alright just thrown around?!

Many thanks for any help with this
x

[Two_Sheds]

I don't throw seed around, because slugs eat everything that comes up. I sow in modules first and plant out when the plants are big enough to survive slug attack. I have hollyhocks and foxgloves in the cold gh right now, along with wallflowers.

Wild flowers (eg corncockles, poppies etc) usually like poor soil, but your lawny patch will be fine for foxgloves etc. Are your kids OK with poisonous plants?

You are taking the turf off? They won't grow in the actual grass

Your turf should regrow if you keep it well watered once you've moved it. I have grass regrowing from where it's been buried under 4 inches of soil

[Poddington Pea]

Hi TS,
thanks for the reply,the flowers are to be grown outside of he children's area (they get sunflowers and nasturtiums!)
I had hoped I could plant through the lawn as I'd like a natural look, like they just sprang up there, I suppose I'll think again! Do you know if the plants that are poisonous to children are poisonous to chickens?!

[Two_Sheds]

Do you know if the plants that are poisonous to children are poisonous to chickens?!

No idea, sorry

You could ask on the chicken forum, they'll know

[Two_Sheds]

I had hoped I could plant through the lawn as I'd like a natural look

It doesn't work, the grass just swamps them. Daffodils are OK in grass, but they are going over before the grass really gets going ... and how are you to mow the grass when it's full of flowers?

Carve out little patches, perhaps semi circles or something. It'll look nice

[Scarlet]

Hi TS,
thanks for the reply,the flowers are to be grown outside of he children's area (they get sunflowers and nasturtiums!)
I had hoped I could plant through the lawn as I'd like a natural look, like they just sprang up there, I suppose I'll think again! Do you know if the plants that are poisonous to children are poisonous to chickens?!

Foxgloves are poisonous to chickens, though if you are planting anything where chickens can free range it wont last!