Liven up your balcony, patio or front-door step with a wildflower meadow in a pot.

Not all of us have gardens, but that doesn’t mean we can’t still plant pollinator-friendly pots to give our bees and butterflies a much needed boost.

Here are some simple instructions, as well as some recommended wildflower species, for planting your very own mini wildflower meadow.

How to grow your wildflower meadow in a pot

1. Ensure that your container has good drainage in the bottom (if not, you could drill some drainage holes) and prepare the pot by putting crocks or rocks in the base.
2. Fill the container to a few inches below the rim with a peat-free multi-purpose compost.
3. Add a 2cm layer of a peat-free seed compost and then thinly sow a layer of wildflower seed.
4. Add another 1cm layer of seed compost and again, sow a layer of wildflower seed.
5. Cover with a final 1cm layer of seed compost and water well but gently so as to not disturb the seeds.
6. Place the pot in a sunny spot and water weekly.

Recommended for planting: cornflowers, wild pansies, poppies, corn marigolds, corn buttercups