Few plants in the garden deliver a more natural appearance than wildflowers. Although real success depends on timing, adhere to these simple tips, tricks and techniques, and you can paint a swath of color across your springtime landscape.
A pure wildflower seed needs the freeze-thaw cycle of late winter and early spring to germinate properly. This is especially true for the most popular varieties, like a poppy. Cold weather cracks open the seed’s hull so it can make its way into the soil. That is why sowing the seed now through March is the ideal planting window.
Good seed-to-soil contact is essential for a majestic stand of wildflowers. There are seemingly weightless wildflower seeds. Designed to float, they can be light as feathers and a challenge to get down into the soil. Casually scattering these seeds on unprepared ground will bring disappointing results. A bit of work and patience is essential to a successful show of spring blooms.
Four simple steps make the difference between wildflower success and failure. Here are the specific planting techniques that guarantee a breathtaking crop of wildflowers:
Step 1: Select and prepare the planting area. Most wildflowers need a considerable amount of sunshine, so choose a place that receives at least six hours of light daily. Planting in weed-free soil ensures optimal results, so pull out any weeds you don’t want growing with your wildflowers. Then, rake the seedbed and loosen the top 1-2 inches of soil. Better growth occurs when 7-4-4 All Purpose Plant Food is mixed into the topsoil. This slow-release organic food providing specific nutrients needed during the germination and growing seasons.
Step 2: Create your own HydroMulch. Often, seeds in a mix are so small you can barely spread them evenly across the soil. To avoid this drawback, buy a bag of Watters Premium Mulch, pour it into a wheelbarrow, and mix in your seed. Spread this seed-mulch blend over the prepared seedbed. This simple trick helps spread the seed precisely where you want, ensuring good seed-to-soil contact, insulating the seed, and camouflaging them from hungry birds.
Step 3: Keep the seedbed moist. If sufficient moisture is present, some seeds can germinate by the end of February. Regardless of planting location, your wildflowers will require supplemental water if it does not rain enough to keep the seedbed moist. Good snow is even better for a freshly planted wildflower bed.
Wildflower Caution: Quality is difficult to spot in wildflower seeds and presents a problem because many shortcuts are taken in the industry. Many box-store wildflower blends are composed of filler and cheap annual seed to keep the cost down. You want high-quality seed that will come back year after year, spreading their blooming joy to other parts of the landscape.
Although I’ve designed numerous local mixes specifically for local gardens, I’m only mentioning some personal choices. My favorite easy-to-grow blend is Watters Arizona Wildflower Blend. This low-water, high-show mix is easy to grow. It contains seeds for Indian paintbrush, California poppy, penstemon, columbine and Arizona lupine, to name a few.
The most popular blend is Watters Parade of Poppies. Far more than the common California poppy, this mix is comprised of seven different poppy flowers. It delivers a truly spectacular flower show in spring.
Drought Tolerant Mix is best for zero-care landscapes and commercial and investment properties. For planting next to the forest and the presence of deer, try Deer Resistant Wildflower Mixture. Attract bees back into the gardens to help pollinate fruit trees and vegetables with Watters Pollinator Wildflower Mix.
Download a free garden class handout, Growing Better Wildflowers, from WattersGardenCenter.com.
Until next month, I’ll be helping local gardeners grow better wildflowers here at Watters Garden Center. QCBN
By Ken Lain
Ken Lain can be found throughout the week at Watters Garden Center, 1815 W. Iron Springs Rd in Prescott, or contacted through his web site at WattersGardenCenter.com or FB.com/WattersGardenCenter .
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