Walking Through Wildflower Gardens

A few years ago I took one of my sons camping in the Wasatch Mountains near our home.  It was early in the spring and after hiking until dark, we set up camp in a small meadow.  In the morning we realized the opposite end of our small meadow was covered with wildflowers.  As we ate breakfast and the sun lit up our camp, the wildflower colors really came alive.  I decided the difference in these colors and those in my flower garden were that they were unique.  It wasn’t the common marigolds, petunias and pansies that seem to dot our neighborhood every year.  I decided then that my yard was going to have wildflowers.

A common myth is that wildflower seed can be scattered on any bare ground and they will flourish.  This simply is not so.  You need to prepare a proper bed, just as you would for your vegetable garden.  Invest some time removing rocks and raking out a smooth surface.  I chose an area that was slightly bermed up to a flagpole.  It presented some challenges keeping the seeds in place until germination but it still worked out.  Flat areas are nice but not essential.  Larger areas seem to do better but I have had success with wildflowers in something as small as a well drained container.

For seeds, I used our Wildflower Dry Land Mix.  I chose this seed mix because it works well with our dry climate and low maintenance always appeals to me.  You may be tempted to harvest your own seeds or plants from the wild.  Do yourself and Mother Nature a favor and purchase some seeds that you know are viable and have a high germination rate.  Some areas have laws against harvesting so be careful if you choose this route.

Choose a calm day to sow your wildflower seeds.  Too much wind and you will be planting for your neighbor.  In general, spring planting is best for the northern states, and fall planting is best for the southern areas.  A couple of tricks for planting are to use sand or potting soil mixed at about 4 to 1 with your seed makes it easier to spread.  I have also covered my newly planted seeds with a thin covering of straw.  Once they are on the ground, gently walk on them or use a roller if you have one.  I made the mistake of letting the kids help with this part.  I had to teach them later that walking on the wildflowers was only a one time deal.  Now gently water them in and keep them moist until germination.

Now just be patient.   Keep weeds out of your new garden and fertilize it occasionally.  It takes time for wildflowers to get well established but, once it does, you will have a continual maintenance free garden.  Different varieties will grow and bloom differently if you use a mix.  This adds a great dynamic element to the garden.  You will see more improvement in the second season as the garden gains some maturity.