Perennial Wildflower Seeds
When should I plant
In all areas, you can seed in spring, just as long as the chance for frost has passed. Fall, just before the rainy season, is the best time for sowing seeds in the desert Southwest. In areas that get snowfall, winter seeding can give seeds a leg up in spring.
Spring Sowing
Spring is a great time to plant Wildflowers in most states. In spring, wait until your ground temperatures have warmed to 55°F, and there is no chance of frost in your area. If you're in a warmer climate, where spring and summer heat up early, you will want to plant at the tail end of your "rainy season" which will give the seeds plenty of natural water to germinate.
Fall Sowing
Fall planting is a great choice for dry areas, as it allows you to take advantage of winter precipitation and cooler temperatures to help seedlings grow. Planting in the fall gives the seed a jump start on spring growth once the ground thaws. It also helps to reduce the growth of weeds, as the wildflowers get the chance to start growing and take over the weeds in the early spring.
Site consideration
Though many wildflowers do tolerate some filtered shade, and a few actually thrive in it, the vast majority are definitely sun-lovers. Therefore, choose a location that receives at least six to eight hours of full, direct sun each day. Your site will also need moisture, so choose a planting time with anticipated rainfall, or an area that you can assure will be kept irrigated for at least the first four to six weeks.
Water
Water as needed to keep soil and seedlings moist until they are 6 - 8 inches tall, which typically takes 4 - 6 weeks. At that point, they will be able to absorb groundwater through their roots to grow strong and healthy all on their own. If you have hot, sunny, and/or dry weather, you may need to water your planting to help seedlings establish. Be sure to give a thorough watering in the morning before a hot day, and also give a thorough watering the next morning.
Sunlight
Wildflowers will thrive in areas that receive at least 6+ hours of sun.The more sun, the better with Wildflowers. Wildflowers are perfect for hot, sunny sites. Full sun is essential for most wildflower varieties, especially to encourage good seed germination.
Seed Germination
After planting your wildflower seed when the air and soil are warm enough and moist, some of the wildflower species will germinate and begin to grow after about 10-14 days. Other species will take 2-8 weeks longer for germination. Some of the slowest perennials will take even longer and some of them require cold stratification over the winter and will not germinate until the spring after winter stratification.
Seeding Rate
Perennial Mix wildflower seeds will grow to an approximate height of 18-48" under normal conditions. This mix blends nicely with our other wildflowers to provide a good perennial base. Recommended rate of application: one pack of 10,000+ seeds covers 100 square feet.
Other Elements
Fertilization
Fertilizing your wildflower site is usually not necessary unless you have extremely low fertility soil. If you do need fertilizer use a low nitrogen fertilizer like 5-10-10. Nitrogen often encourages vegetation growth and not flower growth and also weed growth.
Weed control
Proper site evaluation and soil preparation are the first defenses against the competition of unwanted weeds in your wildflower site. Before planting, assess the current weed population existing within the area. If the site contains an overabundance of weeds, which is usually the case in low-lying or run-off areas where water occasionally stands,
We highly recommend that an alternate site be selected. For best results, choose an area that is elevated with adequate drainage. A site which is well drained should have a limited population of existing weeds. To remove the existing weeds from the site, you have the option to treat the entire area with a nonselective herbicide or remove the weeds by hand. After the area is cleared of as many weeds as possible, soil preparation can begin.
Remember that thousands of buried weed seeds lie dormant beneath the soil, ready to germinate if the ground is disturbed too deeply. Extensive rototilling, disking or plowing the soil greater than one inch in depth will release the dormant weed seed found within the sub-soil. Improper soil preparation can create an uncontrollable weed problem in your wildflower area that could have been avoided. As your wildflowers germinate and grow, periodically hand pull any weeds that may have come up since planting. Weeding should be minimal if the area was prepared properly.
Weeds are an inevitable part of gardening and they should be expected. A little planning and preventive maintenance in combination with proper site selection and soil preparation will greatly reduce the competition of unwanted weeds within your wildflowers.
Seed Storage
The seeds will maintain a high germination percentage if stored under proper conditions. How long your seeds remain viable will depend on the temperature and moisture levels the seeds are exposed to. Seeds which are improperly stored will quickly deteriorate if unprotected against high humidity and dramatic temperature fluctuations day after day.
For best results, keep the seed in our moisture-proof ziplock sealing bags, which provide a better moisture prevention effect. Glass jar or plastic containers with snap-on lids works well too, add a packet of desiccant before sealing into the seed, such as silica gel to remove any moisture remains in the storage container. Seed stored under these conditions will remain viable for as long as years.
Factors Which commonly Cause Poor Results
1. Improper drainage soil
2. Sowing depth more than one inch
3. Covering the seed too deep beneath the soil surface
4. Cover a large area with a small amount of seed.
5. Plant at a wrong time of a year
6. Lack of sunlight
7. Inadequate rainfall after seed germination. The area should not be allowed to become completely dry. Supplemental watering may be required to sustain plant life.
8. Extreme weather conditions: hail, drought, excessive rainfall, floods, unseasonably cold temperatures.