On the Wild Side: Planting Wildflowers

It takes some time and effort to create wildflower meadows, but it's worth it.


Item # 99838 		Fiskars Flower Snips

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  • Topic: Wildflowers
  • Author: Cindy Bellinger and David Salman
  • Keywords: wildflower, meadow, seeds, Planting Techniques
  • Date: September 2003

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While cruising the Internet the other day to see what others say about planting wildflowers, I came across this. A man had posted a note to an online bulletin board. “I just poured the seeds on and raked them in. That was it,” he said. “Simple.”

Well, good. That sounded easy enough. Then I read on only to learn this man lived in Florida. Growing anything in Florida is simple, including wildflowers.

So what about the Southwest? Is it possible to grow wildflowers here, too? The immediate answer has to be, of course it’s possible. After all wildflowers do grow here—along roads, in meadows.

It does take a bit of preparation and some time to plant wildflowers, but once established they also can provide an excellent, low maintenance landscape.

Where do you get the seeds? Our Garden Center carries many different varieties as well as a premixed bulk called Grass and WildflowerRe-Veg Seed Mix. The grasses in this mix are wheat, rye, brome,fescue. The flowers are flax, black-eye Susan, coreopsis, Penstemon, wallflower, bachelor button, firewheel, poppy and yarrow.

Following is a general guideline for planting wildflowers.

  1. When to plant: Any time, in late fall or early spring (when the soil is not frozen), is fine. However, if you’re planting in the fall, make it late enough so that seeds do not germinate until spring.
  2. Preparing the soil: Clear area of all weeds. Then breakup the top 2 to 3 inches of the soil and amend with organic matter (for example; Soil Mender Blend) for good root and water penetration.
  3. Smooth the surface: Lightly rake the area to even it out.
  4. Scatter seeds: Use 1 oz. of seed for 125 sq. ft. or 1 lb. for every 2000 sq. ft. Blend seeds with sand (ratio: 1 bucket of sand: 1 lb. of seed) for a more even coverage. Sow either by hand or with a seed spreader. It helps to sow in one direction the first pass; the second pass sow in the opposite direction to ensure better coverage. But don’t over seed and make a crowded situation. Reseeding during the summer months may be necessary if germination was erratic and there are bare spots.
  5. Rake seeds lightly into the surface: Using the back of a bamboo or fan rake, brush the seed barely under the soil. It’s important for seed-soil contact to be made for germination. Patting small areas with your hands or rolling larger areas with an empty lawn roller are two ways of doing this.
  6. Mulch lightly: Mulching with a dusting of rich organic soil (Soil Mender Top Soil) or compost (Soil Mender Blend) will provide shade to new seedlings and help retain moisture. This also keeps the birds from eating the seeds.
  7. Water: When April rolls around it will be necessary to water if winter/spring precipitation has been lacking. If so, water thoroughly so the soil is damp to a depth of three to four inches. Once watering has begun, keep the soil surface damp for the first three weeks. After emergence of the seedlings be careful not to over water; this will kill the seedlings. For the second three weeks reduce the frequency until you are watering deeply (moist soil to a depth of 6”) once a week. By now your native wildflowers should be pretty well established and can make it on their own.
  8. Weeding. Weeds can quickly overgrow a new planting. However, be careful not to pull the wildflower seedlings. Germinate a pot full of the seed mix you’ve planted so you can identify the seedlings of the wildflowers. Once the seedlings are large enough not to crush by walking on them, hand weed every few weeks.

So. Imagine going out into your own meadow and gathering wildflowers. You’ll have an unlimited supply of fresh cut flowers from a variety of species. And you don’t even have to live in Florida to do this. That’s the best part. You can stay right here.