| In today’s gardens often populated by
geraniums, roses, and zinnias, wildflowers can
provide a simple and graceful flair. Almost any
garden or landscape can be beautified by their
presence. Not only are wildflowers easy to grow
but they possess a natural resistance to pests,
disease, and harsh climates. They can survive in
clay soil, nutrient poor soil, sandy soil, and
practically no soil at all. Once established in
their preferred habitat, wildflowers can survive
on their own without pruning, weeding, primping,
and little or no watering. The easiest way to
create and grow a wildflower garden is to sow the
seeds (to plant seeds by scattering) on
well-prepped ground where they will not be in
competition with weeds and grasses. The basic
steps are as follows:
1. Decide when to plant (sow) the seeds.
Wildflower seeds like warm soil and they can be
planted in either spring or fall, depending on
the species and where you live. They typically
germinate best with a soil temperature of 68 to
70 degrees Fahrenheit. Therefore, if you live in
zones 1-6 you should plant in the spring and if
you live in zones 7-11 you should plant in the
fall. For best results, follow the instructions
on the seed packet or ask your local nursery.
2. Choose a sunny, well-drained gardening
site. Most wildflowers need at least five to
eight hours of sunlight a day and well-drained
soil.
3. Prepare the ground by removing any existing
vegetation and/or weeds.
4. Plant (sow) the seeds. Before spreading,
mix the seeds in a bucket with fine-grade
builder’s sand. Use four parts sand to one
part seed. This will help to ensure even
coverage. Spread the seeds in a sweeping motion
either by hand or by using a handheld broadcast
seeder.
5. Tap in the seeds. A seed that is buried too
deep will not germinate. To ensure good contact
between the seeds and the ground, walk over the
seedbed and tap it down with your foot or use the
head of a garden rake.
6. Water seeds. Wildflower seeds need water to
germinate. Water frequently until the plants grow
1 to 2 inches tall. After that, only water the
wildflowers if they look wilted or stressed.
7. Pull weeds. If weeds grow in the midst of
your wildflower garden, pull them by hand before
they have a chance to flower and populate. If
your wildflowers grow thickly, they will
eventually choke out most weeds.
The types of wildflowers or native plants you
can grow basically depend on the characteristics
of your garden and environment. Typically,
it’s easier to grow native wildflowers that
are already adapted to the climate and growing
conditions in their native range. However, there
are wildflowers that will survive in virtually
any setting and adaptable enough to grow in many
regions of the country. A few of the most popular
wildflowers that grow in North America are Texas
Bluebonnets, Indian Paintbrush, Butterfly Weed,
Autumn Sage, Goldenrod, Sunflower, Black-eyed
Susan, Winecup, and the California Poppy.
Wildflower seeds or plants can be purchased
from a local nursery, mail order, or on the
internet. Normally, wildflower seed mixes contain
seeds of both annual and perennial plants. This
is done so that the annuals grow rapidly and
cover the ground, while the perennial plants are
taking time to get established.
Growing wildflowers from seeds can be more
economical than buying mature plants. However,
one disadvantage of growing wildflowers from
seeds is that many native plants require a long
time to germinate and mature. Also, the seeds of
some species require pretreatment before they can
be planted. This process involves stratification,
which is placing seeds in a refrigerated storage
in a non-soil growing medium for one to two
months and sometimes longer. So, if you are not
proficient at growing plants from seed, it may be
best to start your wildflower garden by
purchasing a few mature plants from a reputable
nursery.
Whether adding wildflowers to your existing
garden or creating a little garden unto itself,
it can be a lot of fun to experiment with seeds
and mature plants and learn which species adapts
the best to your garden. To further research
wildflowers, visit a few of the wildflower
organizations that can be found on the internet.
Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the
creator/editor of The Home Decor Exchange and the
Home & Garden Exchange. The Home Decor
Exchange is a popular home and garden website
featuring resources, articles, decorating
pictures, free projects, and a shopping
marketplace. The Home & Garden Exchange
website is a link exchange program and directory
dedicated to the home and garden industry, as
well as offering free website content and
promotional ideas. Please visit both websites for
all of your home, garden, and website needs.
http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com
http://www.HomeGardenExchange.com
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