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Sowing
Wildflower
Seeds |
In the desert southwest, spring is by far the biggest wildflower season. For a spring show, you need to plant seeds in the fall-October or November-while it's still relatively warm.
Buy wildflower seeds from nurseries, seed order catalogs, or botanic gardens as mixes or individual varieties. Sometimes non-native exotics are included in mixes, so read the content list carefully. Many perennials may be planted from seed, or purchased in nursery containers for a more immediate effect.
Choose an area that gets sunshine most of the day.
Try to eliminate weeds before planting your wildflower seeds. Well in advance of sowing day, water the area until weed seeds germinate; then pull them. One way to learn to recognize weed seedlings is to press samples onto an index card. That way you will be able to differentiate the weed seedlings from the wildflower seedlings in the future. Avoid using pre-emergent herbicides because they kill ALL seeds.
Soak the ground a few days before planting to loosen it for easier digging; rake aside any rocks or gravel but keep them nearby. Dig and turn soil to a depth of about 8 inches. Fertilizer is not need, but you may wish to add compost and sand to help improve soil for germination. Rake the bed gently leaving plenty of small clods and depressions-they help hide the seeds from birds and other animals, as well as provide pockets for water retention.
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Scattering wildflower seeds is easier if you mix them with sand. This also makes for more even distribution. Once scattered, lightly rake in one direction and then another; cover with a thin layer of soil or sand/compost. Then tamp down gently with a rake or your hands. Cover the seed bed with the reserved rocks and gravel.
Using a nozzle spray or sprinkler, water the bed gently; you don't want to wash away the seeds. Continue to water each day or two to keep soil moist until seedlings appear. If it rains, you may not have to hand water. Check the soil with your finger to see if it is moist or dry, then water as needed. After seedlings emerge, water about once a week if no rain falls.
If you have a lot of wildlife in your area, you may wish to build an enclosure to protect your seedlings. Chicken wire and stakes and a covering of bird netting work just fine. Secure the netting to the chicken wire with clothespins. Remember that the cage needs to be high enough to permit growth. Remove all when flowers begin to bloom.
If seedlings come up in very thick patches, they may need to be thinned. Overcrowding will result in stunted growth.
When your flowers dry up and seeds ripen, you can either collect the seeds or allow them to fall into the soil for next year. Once seeds have fallen or been collected, rake away or snap off dried stems. Share your collected seeds with a neighbor!
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