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“Let us dance in the sun, wearing wild flowers in our hair…”

― Susan Polis Schutz

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You know the feeling and how it goes……there is just starting to get a little nip in the air, but the days are still warm and we just can’t bring ourselves to get up in the attic and pull down the winter coats yet. Or, even though we know it will help in the long run if we do some Christmas shopping now, we just can’t imagine taking on the task because, good heavens, October is still on the calendar! It’s that feeling of just not being able to really think of something when it is out of season. Kind of like thinking about bluebonnets in the fall and not just in spring when they are covering the medians of highways. But this is exactly the time of year we should be thinking about wildflowers. If we take the time to plan ahead with our plants, and not only look at when they may bloom, but also when the optimal time is to plant them, we will find ourselves rewarded with a beautiful and bountiful crop during their growing season. So, pull down those coats to prepare for the upcoming cool weather, and go ahead and scratch a few items off of your Christmas list to ease some stress in the future, and purchase and plant your wildflower seeds now to have a banging crop in the spring.

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(Get going… the optimal time for planting wildflower seeds in zones 7-11 is September-Mid November. Pictured: Indian Paintbrush)

I know plenty of people who think they can just grab a handful of wildflower seeds and throw them around haphazardly wherever they please. After all, they are “wild” flowers right? Well, you may get a few gracious sprouts here and there, but to get the best crop from your wildflower seeds, you really should plan a little, and put in a bit more effort. Most of all, the key to happiness in wildflower planting is patience. Nature makes a huge impact on whether or not your crop will be successful. You could do everything right, and then we could experience drought, flood, hail, or a crazy ice storm. Don’t let that deter you though, the end result of a stunning wildflower display is, in itself, a force to be reckoned with. Here are some tips to get you started successfully.

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( Let it shine. Black-Eyed Susan loves the sun!)

Where to Plant: You don’t want to plant your seeds someplace you have had trouble planting in before. If you’ve got a spot where nothing seems to grow, this will most likely apply to your wildflowers as well. Also, even though wildflowers can be planted in most types of soil, you still want to make sure your soil is not heavily compacted and that it drains well. Another key element in where to grow your wildflowers is the sun. You will need to choose a spot that gets a minimum of 8 hours of sunlight. Let sun shine down on your wildflowers. They love it.

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(Don’t risk your life taking pictures by the side of the highway. Grow your own bluebonnet crop to take pictures in.)

Seed and Soil Preparation: If you have a bag of bluebonnet seed, or another seed with a hard coat, it may do you some good to “scar” the seed. This means you kind of scratch or nick the seed in order to help it along in it’s germination process. The “scarring” simulates the natural weathering process that takes a little longer in those hard-coated seeds. To scar the seeds, you can: rub with sandpaper, nick the seeds with a knife, or freeze overnight and then pour boiling water over seeds and let them soak for several hours. Just take note that while this increases your chances of more seeds to germinate, it could damage a few of your seeds as well. You’ll want to get your soil prepared before you put any seeds into the ground. Remember, a little preparation makes for a more bountiful crop in the future. In a well-draining site, eliminate any dead vegetation by mowing and removing clippings from the area. Rake the soil, or lightly till it, only to a depth of one inch. If you go further, you may awaken the dreaded dormant weed seed and sometimes it can be hard to distinguish between a weed seedling and a wildflower seedling when they are first growing. (I’ve seen it happen, a helpful family member thoughtfully removing every sprout from the soil thinking that they are sparing you the chore of weeding; but all the while plucking your newly emerged wildflower seedlings. Oh the horror!) At this point, it is helpful to get a big bowl and mix up some sand with your seed (4:1, sand:seed) to help evenly distribute your wildflowers. Toss half the mixture across the soil area in one direction as evenly as you can, and then turn perpendicular and repeat. Walk over the soil to press in the seeds, or you can press with the palms of your hands. The seeds should not be covered anymore than 1/16 of an inch. In fact, some seeds may still be visible.

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(Watering during germination is key for wildflowers)

Feeding and Watering: You should not need to feed your wildflowers unless your soil is totally void of any nutrients. If you choose to add a fertilizer, it will need to be very low in nitrogen. Feeding wildflowers will produce more foliage, less blooms, and welcome unwanted weeds. As for watering, since we are planting in the fall, we hope to have an increase in rainfall to keep our seeds moist so that they can germinate. But if natural rainfall is not an option, you must have a plan to irrigate manually, or you will have a disappointing turnout in the spring. For about 4-6 weeks after planting seeds, you want to make sure the ground is frequently, and lightly watered. The ground should stay moist during this time, but not over-watered. Once the seedlings begin to appear, the ground should not be allowed to dry out completely, but again, avoid over-watering. As the weather gets cooler, you can increase the time between waterings. Visit your patch regularly and you will be able to see when it needs a little drink and when it has plenty.

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( A bright and cheerful Indian Blanket)

Reseeding: After you have welcomed and and enjoyed your wildflower display during spring, it will be time to let your wildflowers reseed themselves so that you can enjoy them all over again the following year. It is important to note that it is the native perennial varieties that after being established and have reseeded, will return each year. You will want to wait about two full weeks after the full bloom period, or when 50% of the flowers have dropped their seeds, before mowing or cutting the flowers back, to make sure and give the seeds time to mature. Usually when the foliage is more brown then the flowers are bright, the area can then be trimmed to no more than 3 inches. To reseed a smaller patch of wildflowers, you don’t have to do much of anything. You can just let the plant reseed itself. The plant will turn brown and die, and the seeds will drop to the soil. As long as you aren’t disturbing the soil and digging in it to plant anything else, your wildflowers should revisit you again next year in abundance. To aid in reseeding a substantial area of wildflowers, mow to a height of 4-6 inches (again, 2 weeks after full bloom period), as this will help in distributing the wildflower seed for next year.

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(An airtight container will keep your seed viable for many years.)

Collecting Seeds: Here’s a great idea. If you really want to get ahead, and get a jump on your Christmas ideas for NEXT year; you can harvest some of your wildflower seeds at the end of the bloom season, store them, and give them as a gift to a fellow, or novice gardener. There really is something to be said about a little planning and forethought! Again, you’ll want to wait until 2 weeks after the full bloom cycle before removing seed pods. They should look nice and brown and dry, not like fresh snap peas. When you collect your seeds, lay them out on a newspaper, and give them space so they can be thoroughly air-dried. After they are completely dry, you’ll want to clean them up a bit, by removing any leaf debris that may still be on them. You’ll need to store them in an air-tight, water-resistant container. Some people choose ziploc bags, glass jars, or tupperware. If you can find a packet of silica gel to add to the container before it is sealed, it will remove any remaining moisture, ensuring your seeds will last for many years.

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(Sweet and dainty Cosmos)

You can choose from solid packages of one specific seed, or opt for a mixed package that usually has a combination of perennial and annual wildflowers. You are sure to find delight in whichever you choose; so head on in and see what we’re wild about right now!

The Happy Gardener

Lisa Mulroy