This is the ideal month to start a new wildflower garden in 2020.
Few plants in the garden deliver a more natural appearance than wildflowers. Although true success with wildflowers is dependent upon timing, adhere to these simple tips, tricks, and techniques, and you can paint a swathe 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 the poppy. Cold weather cracks open a wildflower seed’s hull, so it can make its way into the soil. That’s why sowing the seed now through March is the ideal planting window.
Proper seed to soil contact is essential to achieve an unbeaten stand of wildflowers. There are wildflower seeds that are seemingly weightless. Designed to float they can be light as feathers, and, therefore, a challenge to get down into the soil. Casually scattering these seeds on unprepared soil 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 an area that receives at least six hours of light daily.
Planting in weed-free soil assures optimal results so pull out any growth you don’t want growing with your wildflowers. Then rake the seedbed to loosen the top 1”- 2″ inches of soil. I find that better growth occurs when ‘All Purpose Plant Food’ 7-4-4 is mixed into the topsoil. The food releases slowly providing the specific nutrient support needed during the germination period and throughout the growing season.
Step 2: Create your own hydro mulch. Often seeds in a mix are so small you can barely tell if you have spread them evenly across the soil. So, to avoid this drawback buy a bag of Watters Premium Mulch, pour it into a wheelbarrow and mix in the seed. Spread this seed-mulch blend over the prepared seedbed. This simple trick helps you see precisely where the seed is placed, ensures good seed-to-soil contact, insulates the seed, and camouflages it 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. Even good snow will maximize germination.
Wildflower Caution! Quality is difficult to spot in wildflower seeds and presents a problem because many shortcuts are taken in the industry. To keep down cost, many blends of wildflower seeds are composed of filler and cheap annual seed. You want high-quality seeds 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 our region, here I’m only mentioning some of my pet choices. My favorite easy-to-grow blend is my ‘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 my ‘Parade of Poppies.’ Far more than the common California poppy, this mix is comprised of seven different poppy flowers. Its different blooms deliver a truly spectacular show.
For zero care landscapes, commercial, and investment properties I suggest the ‘Drought Tolerant Mix.’ For planting next to the forest and the presence of deer, try my ‘Deer Resistant Wildflower Mixture.’ To bring bees back into a garden to help pollinate fruit trees and vegetables go with Watters ‘Pollinator Wildflower Mix’.
The next time you visit the garden center ask for my free handout ‘Growing Better Wildflowers.’ It offers detailed information for growing those always- beloved natural looking colorful spring flowers.
February classes and instructors are finalized, and the rest of the Spring schedule is almost completed. Here are the topics for the first classes of 2020:
February 8 @ 9:30 am: Mountain Fruit Trees and the Heavy Harvest
February 15 @ 9:30 am: Gardening for Newcomers
February 22 @ 9:30 am: Evergreens that Bloom Early
February 29 @ 9:30 am: Spring To-Do List for Better Gardens
Until next month I’ll be helping local gardeners grow better wildflowers here at Watters Garden Center.
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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snipets:
On the Go Answer – Readers Digest-type Condensed Version of this Article
Wildflowers are best planted Before March
Most flowers prefer at least 6 six hours of sun per day
Hydro-mulch – blend wildflower seed in Watters Premium Mulch and spread
Keep seedbed moist
Plant only perennial wildflower seed that come back every spring
Watters Garden Center mixes their own Arizona wildflower blends
Free Garden Class every Saturday 9:30 am at Watters Garden Center