Wildflower seeds don't all germinate at the same time, so don't worry if nothing seems to be happening straight away.

Check that the soil hasn't dried out since sowing. Keep it moist while the seeds germinate, but avoid making it waterlogged.

Seeds that have been buried too deeply can also struggle. Wildflower seeds should generally be scattered onto prepared soil and only lightly pressed or raked into the surface.

Temperature and weather can affect how quickly germination happens too. Give your patch some time before assuming the seeds haven't worked.

Young seedlings can become tall and weak if they're stretching towards the light.

Make sure your patch receives plenty of daylight and isn't being heavily shaded by surrounding plants.

Avoid overwatering or feeding the area unnecessarily, as overly lush growth can also produce weaker plants.

Some variation is normal in a wildflower mixture, so concentrate on whether the seedlings are continuing to grow rather than expecting them all to look the same.

This is quite normal with a wildflower mixture. It contains different species, and they won't necessarily germinate, grow or flower at the same time.

Some plants may appear quickly while others take considerably longer. Conditions in your patch can also favour some species more than others.

Keep caring for the whole area rather than trying to encourage individual varieties, and give slower-growing plants time to appear.

Wildflower patches rarely establish perfectly evenly. Seeds can settle differently across the soil, and small differences in moisture, light and competition can affect where seedlings grow.

Keep the area watered during dry periods while young plants establish and try to prevent weeds or vigorous grasses from taking over bare areas.

Don't worry if your patch doesn't immediately look full. Wildflowers develop at different rates and the appearance of the patch will continue to change.

Lots of leafy growth doesn't necessarily mean something has gone wrong. Some wildflowers take longer to reach flowering size than others, and flowering times vary between species.

Avoid adding fertiliser. Rich soil and additional feeding can encourage vigorous leafy growth and competition rather than helping create a diverse wildflower display.

Give the patch plenty of light and time to develop. Depending on the plants and when you sowed them, some may not flower until later — and some wildflowers may not bloom in their first year.

Weeds and vigorous grass can compete with young wildflowers for light, water and space, particularly while the patch is becoming established.

Remove obvious weeds carefully where you can identify them, taking care not to pull up your wildflower seedlings at the same time.

If you're unsure whether a young plant is a weed or one of your wildflowers, it can be better to wait until it's easier to identify rather than removing it immediately.

Avoid using weedkiller on the patch.

Start by checking the soil. Wilting can happen when plants are too dry, but constantly wet or waterlogged soil can cause problems too.

During dry weather, give the patch a thorough but gentle watering, particularly while plants are young and establishing.

Also look for heavy competition from weeds or surrounding plants and check that the patch is receiving enough light.

An occasional damaged, yellowing or dying plant is normal in a mixed wildflower patch. Different species naturally grow and finish at different times, so judge the patch as a whole rather than expecting every plant to remain healthy at once.