It's a myth
that wildflower gardens are completely carefree. While it's true
that established wildflower meadows may need less care than more
formal perennial plantings, they still require maintenance. And
it's essential to prepare the site well in advance of planting.
Begin by removing
as many weeds as possible from the planting area. Then till
the area shallowly (down to 2"), to raise as few weed seeds to the
surface as possible. Water the area a couple of times to encourage
weeds to sprout, wait a few weeks, then hand-pull weeds or till
again. This reduces future weed competition, which is crucial to
the wildflowers' ability to get established.
Choose a regional
mix that suits your climate. When sowing seed, be sure to broadcast
it evenly. To make this easier, mix it with sand for even distribution,
and then cover seed by lightly raking it in. Snow melt in the spring
and rains should provide moisture. If it's an extremely dry year,
you may have to apply water.
Once established,
mow the meadow once a year, after the first hard frost. Don't rake
up the trimmings, because it contains the wildflowers' seeds. This
annual cutting also removes any weed shrubs and trees that sprout.
Most wildflowers
do better and bloom more on relatively poor soils, so don't be quick
to add fertilizer to the area.
