How Do I Plant My Wildflowers?
In order to achieve a successful stand of wildflowers, it is very important that the soil is prepared correctly and the seed is rolled or pressed into the soil after sowing. Burying the seed too deeply or casually broadcasting the seed over an unprepared area will only produce disappointing results.- Select a site that drains well. Oftentimes we tend to plant in areas that are low-lying or poorly drained, thinking that the wildflowers will flourish under these moist conditions. Moist locations are usually very weedy, because as water drains through the area, thousands of weed seeds are deposited onto the site that were collected upstream. Remember... most wildflowers thrive in well drained soils.
- Use an herbicide to eliminate any vegetation which may compete with your wildflowers (Optional).
- Mow the existing or dead vegetation as short as possible. Collect the clippings and remove the material from the site.
- To prepare the seed bed, rake or lightly till the surface of the soil to a maximum depth of one inch. Shallow soil preparation will limit the disturbance of dormant weed seed.
- It is helpful to thoroughly mix a carrier such as masonry sand, perlite, potting soil, etc., to the seed to increase volume and aid in even distribution over your site. We recommend a minimum of 4 parts inert material to 1 part seed.
- Broadcast one half of your seed as uniformly as possible over the prepared area. Sow the remaining seed in a direction perpendicular to the initial sowing.
- Press the seed into the soil by walking or rolling over the newly planted area. Do not cover the seed any deeper than 1/16 of an inch. Some of the seeds will remain visible.
