ColourBOOST High Impact Amenity Flower Mixtures
Colour Boost from DLF In order to meet with the increasing demand for conservation mixtures, DLF has utilised in-house research and production facilities to formulate a number of high-quality, maximum-impact mixtures designed for amenity spaces. Within the Colour Boost range is a mixture to suit most situations not only improving visual merit, but restoring critical habitats for insect, small mammal and bird populations. Only the best quality varieties are selected to deliver consistent results, strong visual impact and bring benefit to the immediate environment. Our experienced team is on hand to provide advice on mixture selection and the ongoing maintenance of your space. Why choose Colour Boost mixtures? Flowering species have long played a key role in landscaping and development projects, bringing biodiversity to urban environments, as well as domestic or public green spaces. The inclusion of Colour Boost is a great step in improving levels of engagement and interaction with the environment. ColourBOOST High Impact The Colour Boost range from DLF has been designed for maximum floral impact, incorporating both wild flower and garden flowering species. Colour Boost mixtures establish rapidly to deliver a dazzling floral display throughout the year whilst providing welcome food and shelter for wildlife. Add colour, biodiversity and interest to your space with Colour Boost.
Colour Boost will satisfy the desire to bring aesthetic appeal to public spaces, while providing valuable habitat and a source of food to a rich variety of wildlife. For butterflies, bees and other pollinators they provide a valuable source of pollen and nectar at a time when many areas of their natural environment are under threat. • Easy to grow, with relatively low levels of input required throughout the season • Cost-effective way of improving the aesthetic appeal of a space • Robust, fast-flowering mixtures with long-lasting results • Improve engagement and interaction with the environment • Reduce water and chemical consumption • Improve biodiversity and create habitats for wildlife How to optimise results from the Colour Boost range Sowing of Colour Boost should ideally take place in the spring, when the soil is warm and moist enough to encourage germination. Late March or early April are optimal, however late spring frosts should be avoided. Sowing can then take place right through until the end of June. Mixtures are tolerant of a wide variety of soil types, making them suited to a range of sites including golf courses, parks & public spaces, grounds, gardens and highways. Try to avoid shaded areas – most species within the Colour Boost mixtures prefer full, or at least half, sun. They will also prefer soils that can retain some moisture. Land should also be avoided that is susceptible to weed ingress such as landfills or old vacant areas. For further information on how to sow and maintain Colour Boost, see page 14. Contents Colour Boost Testimonial Colour Boost at Wildheart Animal Sanctuary 4 Carnival A stunning celebration of bright and bold annuals 5 Floral Carpet Lower growing annuals to recreate a summer meadow 6 Skyscraper Light the sky with high impact taller growing species 7 Biodiversity Deliver colour & life with this important mix for wildlife 8 Honey Bee & Butterfly A mix of flowering species popular with pollinators 9 Blush Annuals to appeal to the heart, in tones of roses & red 10 Classical A regal mix of beautiful blues and wonderful whites 11 Chameleon Ever-changing mix for bold colour throughout the season 12 Poppy 100% Poppy - The epitome of remembrance & reflection 13 Colour Boost Technical Guide 14 Amenity Flower Mixtures
4 DLF Colour Boost brings conservation closer to home for Wildheart Animal Sanctuary Providing a new home, rest and rehabilitation for rescued animals from across the globe, the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary (formally the Isle of Wight Zoo) have been working on a project to support species much closer to home. With flower mixtures and support from DLF Seeds, the work at the sanctuary and at local schools has been hailed a great success - with Chief Operating Officer, Lawrence Bates noting both the improvements in bio-diversity and awareness of the issues affecting our native habitats. Lawrence began planning the habitat creation with the help of DLF’s Paul Hadley in a previous role a few years ago and saw the opportunity to resurrect it upon joining the Wildheart Animal Sanctuary in July 2019. “It can be difficult for people to understand how important our behaviour and efforts are for supporting our own native species that are under threat, when a lot of the media focus is on animals on the other side of the globe. Our vision with this project is to look at spaces closer to home, increase the bio-diversity to provide habitats, shelter and food for invertebrates which, in turn, helps animals further up the food chain.” “Paul visited the island and advised on the most suitable species for our new flower meadow on site, but also what would work for projects at some local schools, which weren’t going to be maintained by experts!” Selected were Carnival, a mixture containing quick-to-establish, high impact annuals and Chameleon, comprising of over 40 different species and subspecies, the appearance of which is constantly changing throughout the growing season. Four flower meadows were sown at the schools on the island prior to the lockdown in March 2020, with the Sanctuary’s own meadow then planted in June 2020. “The result from these two Colour Boost mixtures was phenomenal! Not only did the students benefit from the educational programme around wild flowers and conservation, but it completely transformed previously neglected areas of the school sites, and our own site, with hardy blooms that created a dazzling, long-lasting display of colour.” “We received so many lovely comments from Head Teachers with numerous other schools now wanting to get involved. We’re also talking to local churches and a number of businesses through the Green Impact Group about new sponsored plots of land.” Lawrence concludes, “The programme is growing fast and the impact this will have on the wildlife is exponential! Without DLF and their ongoing support, the project wouldn’t have got off the ground.” ColourBOOST
5 Carnival A stunning celebration of bright and bold annuals COMMON NAME COLOURS Paper Daisy White/Pink/Purple Pheasant’s Eye Red/Orange Pot Marigold Red/Orange/Yellow Cornflower Blue/Pink/White Cosmos Pink/Purple Painted Daisy Red/Orange/Pink/Yellow Dwarf Morning Glory Blue/Purple/Pink/White Chinese Forget-me-not Blue California Poppy Multi-colour mix Fineflower Blue/Pink Farewell To Spring Pink/Red/White Baby’s Breath Red/White Candytuft White/Blue/Pink/Purple Love-in-a-Mist Blue/Pink/Purple/White Corn Poppy Red Carnival Designed to create a robust and attractive display in any park, public open space or golf course. This flower mixture will provide a dazzling annual display. Quick to establish with a long flowering period from eight weeks after sowing up until the first frosts. ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Carnival colour palette Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period Carnival pack sizes: 50g tin, 1kg & 10kg bags
6 Floral Carpet Lower growing seasonal annuals mixture, designed to create a robust and attractive display in areas where final growing height is of paramount importance. This is particularly relevant when sowing near visibility splays and sight lines on road junctions. This lower growing mixture will provide rich blooms throughout the season, perfect for enhancing any street scene. Quick to establish with a long flowering period from eight weeks after sowing up until the first frosts. COMMON NAME COLOURS Sweet Alyssum Lilac/White Dwarf Morning Glory Blue/Purple/Pink/White Cornflower Blue/Pink/White California Poppy Orange/Yellow Farewell To Spring Pink/Red/White Virginia Stocks Lilac/Pink/White Flax Blue/Red Love-in-a-Mist Blue/Pink/Purple/White Mexican Marigold Orange/Red China Aster Multi-colour mix Pot Marigold Orange/Yellow Candytuft Blue/Pink/Purple/White Lobelia Multi-colour mix Baby Blue Eyes Blue Phlox Drummondii Multi-colour mix Floral Carpet Lower growing annuals to recreate a summer meadow Floral Carpet colour palette ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period Floral Carpet pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag
7 Skyscraper Light the sky with high impact taller growing species COMMON NAME COLOURS Cornflower Blue/Pink/White Cosmos Pink/Purple Corn Marigold Yellow Tickseed Yellow/Red Mexican Sunflower Orange/Red Garden Zinnia Red/Yellow/Pink Mexican Marigold Yellow/Orange Skyscraper colour palette Skyscraper A taller growing mixture containing classics such as Cosmos and Zinnia. Created for areas where a larger or more open surrounding environment requires a taller growing mixture to deliver the same impact. The taller more robust nature of this mixture also provides fantastic shelter and a habitat for small mammals, invertebrates and pollinating insects. ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Skyscraper pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period
8 Biodiversity Deliver colour and life with this important mix for wildlife COMMON NAME COLOURS Perennials: Alpine Forget-me-not Blue/Pink Yarrow White Musk Mallow Pink Sweet William White/Pink/Purple Purple Coneflower Purple Meadowsweet White Shasta Daisy White/Yellow Soapwort Pink Annuals: Pot Marigold Yellow/Orange Corn Cockle Mauve Common Bugloss Blue Biennials: Wallflower Orange/Yellow Vipers Bugloss Blue Foxglove Purple Black Medick Yellow Canterbury Bells Blue Biodiversity colour palette Biodiversity A blend of seasonal Annuals, Biennials and Perennials designed to attract a host of varied fauna including pollinating insects. The composition of species is wide and ensures a good adaptability to different growing conditions and good colour during the first year. The colour scheme of the mix changes during the season depending on which species are in bloom at the time. ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period Biodiversity pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag
9 Honey Bee & Butterfly A mix of flowering species popular with pollinators COMMON NAME COLOURS Common Bugloss Blue Cornflower White/Blue/Pink/Red Cosmos Pink/Purple/Orange California Poppy Multi-colour mix Dwarf Sunflower Yellow Farewell To Spring Pink/Red/White Black-eyed Susan Yellow/Red Garden Zinnia Red/Yellow/Pink Shasta Daisy White/Yellow Tickseed Yellow/Red Foxglove Purple Sweet William White/Pink/Purple Perennial Flax Blue Honey Bee & Butterfly colour palette Honey Bee & Butterfly Designed specifically with key pollinators in mind, a really attractive mixture doing a vital job in providing a nectar source for our bee population and other pollinating insects. This mixture will provide a spectacular display in year one, with species such as Foxglove and Sweet William flowering in year two if the mixture is left. ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Honey Bee & Butterfly pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period
10 Blush Pale pinks through to deep reds, Blush provides a beautifully warm mix of flowers from this colour palette. Designed for great succession flowering from late spring until well into the autumn. Blush Annuals to appeal to the heart, in tones of roses & red COMMON NAME COLOURS Summer Pheasant’s Eye Dark Red Corn Cockle Purple Love-lies-bleeding Red China Aster Pink/Purple Cornflower Blue Spider Flower Pink Garden Cosmos Pink Forking Larkspur Dark Blue/Purple California Poppy Red/Orange/Yellow Strawberry Fields Globe Red Showy Baby’s Breath White/Pink Pink Sunray Pink Rose Mallow Pink Red Flax Red Night Scented Stock Lilac Marvel of Puru Yellow/Pink/White Corn Poppy Red Wild Clary Purple Cowherb Pink Youth-and-Age Pink/Purple/Yellow/Orange Blush colour palette ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period Blush pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag
11 Classical A regal mix of beautiful blues and wonderful whites Classical colour palette COMMON NAME COLOURS Common Bugloss Blue Cornflower Larkspur Dragonhead Purple Bugloss Flax Love-in-a-mist Blue Tansy Annual Sage Common Vetch Sweet Alyssum White Queen Anne’s Lace Cornflower Creeping Daisy Garden Cosmos California Poppy Candytuft Love-in-a-mist Soapwort Common Zinnia Classical Deep blues through to pure whites gives this trusted colour combination an everlasting appeal. This mixture works especially well in a more formal setting, or providing the transition between a formal and informal landscape. ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 Classical pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period
12 Chameleon Ever-changing mix for bold colour throughout the season Chameleon A brilliantly diverse mixture of over 40 species and subspecies providing a fantastic range of colours and forms. This mixture is constantly changing throughout the growing season. Summer Chameleon has been a consistent performer on our trial grounds giving a fantastic show throughout the season. Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period Chameleon pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag Chameleon colour palette ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 3-5g/m2 COMMON NAME COLOURS Fossflower Blue Sweet Alyssum Purple/Pink Love-lies-bleeding Red Bishop’s Weed White Dill Yellow Snapdragon Yellow/Pink/White Borage Blue Pot Marigold Orange China Aster Pink/Purple Safflower Yellow/Orange Cornflower Blue Mediterranean Stock Pink/Lilac Painted Daisy (Tricolour) Pink/Yellow/White Elegant Clarkia Pink/Purple Purple Chinese Houses Purple Dwarf Morning Glory Blue/White/Yellow Garden Cosmos Pink Chinese Hound’s Tongue Blue Garden Dahlia Pink/Purple Doubtful Knight’s Spur Blue/Pink/White Sweet William Red/White Purple Viper’s Bugloss Purple Foothill Poppy Yellow Farewell to Spring Pink/White Showy Baby’s Breath Pink Common Sunflower Yellow Strawflower Yellow/Pink/White Candytuft White Balsam Pink/Lilac Rose Mallow Pink Moroccan Toadflax Purple Lupin Pink/Purple/White/Blue Mallow Wort Pink/White Mayweed White/Yellow Hoary Stock Pink/White/Lilac Bells of Ireland Green Love-in-a-Mist Blue/Pink/White/Purple Yellow Fennel Flower Yellow Black Eyed Susan Yellow/Brown Cowherb Pink Sweet Scabious Pink/Lilac/Purple Starflower Pincushions White Monarch of the Veld Orange/White Youth-and-Age Pink/Purple/Yellow/Orange
13 Poppy 100% Poppy - The epitome of remembrance and reflection COMMON NAME COLOURS Field Poppy Red Poppy Creating an evocative image in drifts of bright red. Whether it’s just for show or creating a display to remember those heroes no longer with us, the simple poppy makes a great choice. Poppy can also be successfully sown in the autumn. Poppy colour palette ColourBOOST Sowing Rate 1g/m2 Poppy pack sizes: 1kg / 10kg bag Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Flowering Period
14 Colour Boost Technical Guide Where to sow Colour Boost Colour Boost is well suited to a range of soil types and environments including golf courses, highway areas, public green spaces and gardens. Land that is completely shaded or enclosed by trees should be avoided. Most species included in the Colour Boost mixtures require full, or at least half, sunlight to flourish. In addition, while the species selected demonstrate resistance to drought, some moisture will need to be present for them to thrive. Spaces that are susceptible to weed ingress, such as landfills or old vacant sites, should also be avoided. When to sow Colour Boost The ideal time to sow Colour Boost is when the soil is warm and moist enough to promote germination – this would traditionally be in the spring. Sowing of Colour Boost is possible from the end of March or beginning of April, when the period of late spring frosts is over. Sowing can then take place until approximately the end of June depending on conditions. How to prepare the ground for sowing Preparing the ground is a crucial step to ensure the best results from your Colour Boost mix. Under no circumstances should seed be sown onto an area that is currently covered, such as into an existing lawn etc. To achieve optimal germination, the soil may need to be worked, prepared and/or treated before the seed is sown. When sowing Colour Boost, the seed should be in adequate soil contact and lightly covered. How to sow Colour Boost Keep the seed in its original packaging at normal temperatures (5°C to 20°C) until the day you intend to sow. Shake the can or bag in order to adequately mix the seeds before sowing. Whether you are undertaking the sowing operation by hand or by machine, ensure you continue to mix the seed throughout in order to achieve an even distribution of plants. The ideal sowing method will be determined by the area being planted. For Colour Boost mixtures, the ideal sowing rate is between 3-5g/m2. For areas under a few hundred m2 hand sowing is likely to deliver the best results. For larger areas, mechanised sowing will be better suited. Mix the Colour Boost seeds with Rehofix Bulking Granules at a ratio of 4 parts Rehofix to 1 part seed. The use of a micro-granule or fertiliser applicator is recommended where possible. Ensure that the seeds are lightly covered and use a suitable roller to help achieve that desired seed contact with the soil. Utilising a seed drill is also advised. Seed drills are typically used to sow grass or other small seeds in shallow seed beds (0.5cm). A seed drill will ensure that the Colour Boost seeds are adequately buried in the ground to help promote germination. Colour Boost Maintenance Colour Boost mixtures require little maintenance - they do not need watering, feeding or treating with pesticides. The small ecosystem they create when established will sustain Colour Boost species and allow them to thrive freely. For mixtures containing Biennials and Perennials such as Biodiversity and Honeybee and Butterfly that are to be kept for more than one year, cut back and collect all the top growth before the next spring. Hand weed or spot treat any undesirable species. ColourBOOST
15 Technical Managers Any information provided in this catalogue is given in good faith and to the best of our existing knowledge. Any advice should therefore be taken as a general guide only and not relied upon for all conditions and circumstances. We cannot accept any legal liability for information given in this publication. In any instance where there are shortages of specified species we reserve the right to substitute. DLF Inkberrow & Head Office DLF Seeds Ltd., Thorn Farm, Inkberrow WR7 4LJ Telephone: 01386 791102 - Email: amenity@dlf.co.uk www.dlf.co.uk ColourBOOST Stuart Yarwood M: 07801 459625 stuart.yarwood@dlf.com Roger Peacock M: 07801 459623 peacock@dlf.co.uk Ian Barnett M: 07814 669085 ibarnett@dlf.co.uk Craig Spooner M: 07824 906933 cspooner@dlf.co.uk Kyle Paterson T: 01506 674812 kyle.paterson@dlf.com Damian McAllister M: 07774 249609 dmcallister@dlfseeds.ie Matt Gresty MM & Designer (Nationwide Sales) M: 07767 278335 matthew.gresty@dlf.com KW KW AL B BA BB BH BL BN BR BS AB E EC EH EN EX KA KA KT KY L M ME MK ML N PA PA PA PA PA PE PH PL PO PR SA SE SG SK SL SM SN SO SP SS ST SW SY G W HS HS IV DD FK TD NE DG DH SR CA DL TS LA YO HG BD HU IM FY LS WF DN LN S HX HD NG OL WN WA CH CW LL LL DE TF WS WV LE NR IP CB CO CM NN CV DY WR LD HR GL NP OX CF HP LU RG TA TR TQ DT GU RH TN CT WD HA UB IG RM DA CR TW NW WC NI ROI IW Our experienced team of national technical representatives are available for DLF customers, delivering sound advice on mixtures, field support and maintenance.
ColourBOOST © Copyright DLF Seeds 2022 - design - www.panpublicity.co.uk Marketed by: DLF Edinburgh 10 Westerton Road East Mains Industrial Estate Broxburn West Lothian EH52 5AU Telephone: 01506 674800 DLF Inkberrow & Head Office DLF Seeds Ltd., Thorn Farm, Inkberrow WR7 4LJ Telephone: 01386 791102 www.dlf.co.uk @DLFSEEDS_UK DLF Seeds Ireland Ballymountain, Ferrybank, Co. Waterford X91 V6YR Ireland Telephone: 051-897060 Email: info@dlfseeds.ie
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