GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS FOR PLANTING WILDFLOWERS.

Annual, Biennials and Perennials can be planted in early spring or as a late fall dormant seeding. Most wildflowers require sunlight but Purple Coneflower, Lance Leaf Coreopsis, Cornflower, Blackeyed Susan and Catchfly can tolerate some shade. Plant wildflower seeds no more than ¼ inch deep in a prepared seedbed or in a raked soil if in an existing prairie planting. Avoid acidic soils. Prairie wildflowers require well -drained soils and require no fertilizer if planted in their native habitat. Supplemental watering at the time of seeding and germination is ideal if you have a water source available. Avoid over-watering once growth and blooming has begun.

1 – 2 pounds per 1500 square feet for optimum coverage
1 – 2 pounds per 5000 square feet for normal coverage
6 – 8 pounds per acre with grasses
10 pounds per acre wildflowers alone

When: Plant in the fall after the soil has cooled.

Where: On a site with fairly good soil that is well drained.

How:

(A) Prepare soil as for any flowerbed

(B) Remove existing clumps of vegetation or dirt

(C) Plant seeds in rows or broadcast evenly

(D) Do not fertilize. Cover not more than ¼". Moisten bed if no dampness is apparent.

Wildflower Wisdom

When are wildflowers "wild"?

There is a great deal of discussion about flower species being sold as wildflowers that are not native to the continental U.S. Most companies include designations for non-native species: domesticated and introduced are the most commonly used terms. Our species that fall into that category are designated "non-native" or naturalized.

When is the best time to plant wildflowers?

The answer to this question depends on many different factors: geographic location, soil type and site. Most native plants lose their seeds in the fall, with the natural freezing and thawing of the winter breaking the dormancy of the seed. Therefore to duplicate nature, the best planting time is in the fall.

However, many prefer early to mid spring plantings, especially if the location is in the northern United States. If you are seeding annuals, many of them form a rosette after germination in the fall and then complete their life cycle the following spring. Seeding is often delayed in the spring by the excess moisture that will postpone the planting date until early summer.

All these are factors to consider when choosing the best time to plant. Check with local Extension Service people for the time that would best suit your needs in your area. Fall planting has its drawbacks however; erosion and rodents will do damage to your seed. I f the site is subject to erosion and rodents are prolific, plant in the spring.

Do I need to water wildflowers?

Obviously a certain amount of water is necessary for germination to occur. Some companies suggest that keeping the seeded area moist for six weeks is essential. However, most of the time this is not necessary. It is wise to keep the seedlings from drying out completely, but a continual watering is not needed. Wildflowers are hardy; they are very drought tolerant. Watering is nice but not essential. In addition, too much water can cause root rot and leaf mold in many species. Monitor water applications. More is not necessarily better.

How do I prepare the soil?

Just because it is a wildflower doesn’t mean that simply scattering the seed will be sufficient. The seeds must touch the soil and need to be covered only slightly. Large clumps of sod should be removed and clods of dirt smoothed or thrown out. In other words, a wildflower seedbed should look just like any other flowerbed. If you are seeding into existing vegetation, realize that the probability of success is greatly diminished. Cultivation to remove weeds is necessary: many times this must be done several times during one year’s time to insure success.

Another method of weed control is the application of a short duration herbicide (i.e. Roundup, etc.), but the use of herbicides should only be done while closely following the manufacturer’s instructions. Be aware of what previous treatment the land has received. Many herbicides used on farm crops have a significant carry-over and would kill your wildflower planting. If you have used Roundup to kill weeds and grasses, allow at least three weeks to lapse before planting your wildflower seeds.

A very light mulch or wheat or oat straw will hold the seeds in place and act as a retardant against invasive weeds. Many people choose to plant a cover crop for erosion control. Such crops should not directly compete with the wildflowers therefore oats are the better selection. Even if they winter kill, the rootstock will serve as a soil stabilizer.

How do I plant Wildflowers?

Probably the single greatest mistake made with wildflowers is improper planting. The typical flower seed from domesticated species is planted about one inch deep in the soil. Wildflowers, however, will not tolerate this depth. A planting depth of ¼" to ½" is preferred. The seeds will germinate at greater depths, but do not have enough strength to push through the over-lying soil.

Another common question is identification of seedlings. If you do not know what the seedlings will look like, plant your wildflowers in a row and pull up anything outside that row. If planting on a large scale use a grassland seeder that allows for the calibration of the depth and rate of planting. With your wildflowers in rows you can even cultivate them during the early establishment period, and this is helpful in controlling weeds.

Should I mow my wildflower planting?

If the planting is all perennials then yes, mow three or four times during the first growing season. The mowing should be done at a height of 6 to 8 inches. If you have annuals, weed control by hand pulling is preferred, or schedule the mowing after the seed has set after blooming.

Where Do I plant Wildflowers?

Native species of wildflowers will adapt to most sites that are well drained and receive sun. Almost all wildflowers require about six hours of sunlight for them to survive. Obviously some plants are better adapted to wetter or drier sites. This fact is usually mentioned in the descriptions of the species. Also look for mixtures designed for specific areas, i.e. wetland or dry land mixes.

What about the additions of Fertilizer to the wildflower Planting?

Initially, don’t do it. The first year of growth for most wildflowers is a time of root establishment. Fertilizer would be used by the invasive weeds, which you don’t want. The benefit to your wildflowers would be minimal with only an increase in vegetative (top) growth seen. Save your fertilizer for an established stand that is several years old.

When will my wildflowers bloom?

Annuals will bloom the first full growing season. Perennials normally will not bloom until the second season. Some may require three years. Patience is the key.

USDA Plant Hardiness Map

For your convenience we have reproduced the USDA Plant Hardiness Map. The hardiness zones are based on the average low temperature for each zone. Many factors such as altitude, snow cover, degree of exposure to wind, proximity of bodies of water, excessive or minimal rainfall, soil types, etc. can create variations within zones. Please understand that these abnormalities can adversely affect your wildflowers. Thus, the spring and fall planting dates published on this page should be considered generalizations. The above factors have a dramatic effect on predicting precise sowing dates for each zone.

Range of average annual minimum temperatures for
each zone with recommend spring or fall dates for wildflowers.

Zone 1	Below -50°F		Sow Seed in early spring when soil can be worked.
Zone 2	-50°F to -40°F		Sow Seed in early spring when soil can be worked.
Zone 3	-40°F to -30°F		Spring  April 15 - June 15	Fall August 15 - Oct. 1
Zone 4	-30°F to -20°F		Spring April 15 - June 15	Fall Sept. 1 - Oct. 15
Zone 5	-20°F to -10°F		Spring April 15 - June 15	Fall Sept. 1 - Oct. 15
Zone 6	-10°F to 0°F		Spring March 15 - May 15	Fall Sept. 15 - Nov. 1
Zone 7	0°F to 10°F		Spring Feb. 15 -April 15	Fall Sept. 15 - Nov. 15
Zone 8	10°F to 20°F		Spring Jan. 15 - March 1	Fall Oct. 1 - Dec. 1
Zone 9	20°F to 30°F		Spring Jan. 1 - March 1	Fall Oct. 1 - Dec. 1
Zone 10	30°F to 40°F		Spring Jan. 1 - March 1	Fall Oct. 1 - Dec. 1
Zone 11	Above 40°F		Spring Jan. 1 - March 1	Fall Oct. 1 - Dec. 1

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Sharp Brothers Seed Co.
396 SW Davis St. - LaDue
Clinton, Missouri 64735

Phone:  1-800-451-3779
or Phone:  1-660-885-7551
Contact: General inquiries use our contact form.

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