Description
HOW TO PLANT:
Good seed-to-soil contact is essential for successful seed germination.
Site Preparation: It is important to provide a good seed bed for wildflowers as they generally compete poorly with established weeds and grasses. The ground should be rototilled or scarfifed to provide good seed to soil contact and should be as free as possible of weed and grass competition. Unless the soil is very depleted, no preplant fertilizer is recommended. Roundup may be used to reduce competition 7 days before planting.
Timing: A spring planting before anticipated rainfall is best. Summer plantings can also be successful with adequate irrigation or rainfall to insure germination and establishment. Late summer seedings should allow at least 8 weeks before the first expected frost. Dormant seedings in late fall and winter can also be successful and the seed will normally germinate during spring as the soil warms.
Planting: A seeding rate of 5 to 10 lbs. per acre is recommended. An inert carrier such as vermiculite may be helpful to evenly spread the seed. Seeding can be accomplished with a drill (plant to a depth of 1/8 to 1/4 inch and firm well) or with a drop spreader, cyclone spreader, or by hand. Spread seed as evenly as possible and rake very lightly. Weed free straw or peat moss 1/8 inch depth can be used as a mulch.
Establishment: Best results are obtained if the soil is kept moist for a month after planting. Some seedlings will normally appear in two weeks and other will take up to four weeks. An average soil temperature required to germinate wildflowers in 65 degrees F.
Management: No fertilizer is recommended unless the soil is of very low fertility. Fertilizer generally encourages weeds and grasses at the expense of wildflowers. Irrigation may be helpful during droughty periods and will usually increase the amount of flowering and length of blooming. After flowering is complete in late summer or fall, one mowing is desirable. This mowing will help spread seed for next year’s flowers and will also improve appearance.
Flowering: The earliest blooms may appear 6 to 8 weeks after seeding. Other will appear later throughout the spring and summer. Some perennials will not flower until the second year.
