Planting Wildflowers --- Large Area Best answer on the web

  • Hi There !

    I want to plant flowers (wildflowers?)on a 1.5 acre parcel of land.
    The goal is to cover the entire area with flowers.

    This is obviously much bigger than your normal garden, and I am a
    cheapskate.
    Therefore, I need to know the most inexpensive (and least time
    consuming) way to do this.

    1. Bulk seed?
    2. Spreading the seed over a wide area---on the ground surface
    without actually planting the seed *in* the dirt?
    3. Using my tractor in some way?

    A 5-star answer would be your opinion in 1-2 paragraphs. No
    supporting documentation or web sites required.


    All comments greatly appreciated.

    Thanks!
    ron


  • Does your land have grass and/or weeds on it, or is it bare dirt?


  • I'm going to leave your question to be answered by a Researcher with firsthand experience doing this sort of thing (I hope). I am a city kid, and my gardening experience has been very small-scale (just backyard stuff); I think you need advice from someone who has more of a farming background.
    Here's some interesting reading:

    http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/prairie/msg0316164030617.html

    http://www.lincstrust.co.uk/facts/meadow/wildflower.html

    http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/wildflowermeadow.html
    http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07233.html

    http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/berksbucksoxon/publications/factsheets/MEADOWS.pdf
    A booklet that might be useful:

    http://www.gardenguides.com/countrywisdombulletins/creatingawildflowermeadow.htm


  • Howdy, Byrd. I just requested the catalog from Wildseed Farms. I'm actually "temporarily transplanted" to California right now. But I'll be visiting my brother in Round Rock (Austin) in 2 weeks, and hope to see both Wildseed Farms and the Ladybird (kin to you? heh heh heh) Wildflower Center. Thanks again, Byrd. Much appreciated ! ron


  • So this is going to be a harrowing experience for you? :-D

    (Sorry, cannot resist the opportunity for a little wordplay.)


  • This might be helpful:

    "For an even distribution of wildflower seed, mix six parts dry sand with one part seed. For small areas, spread the mix by hand. On larger areas, use a cyclone-type fertilizer/seed spreader. For small areas, light raking can help ensure good seed contact with soil. For large areas, it's faster to pull a section of chain-link fence behind a tractor."
    http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07233.html


  • mister2u---this is great! Thanks for taking the time. ron


  • Thanks, pinkfreud !


  • tlspiegel---this is terrific. I specially enjoy the "Wildflower Meadow." Thanks. ron


  • In my experience most mixes do not grow well by direct sowing,only a few species will grow this way,get advice from someone who grows wildflowers in your area.Check out the forums at www.organicgardening.com for more info.


  • We're going to need pictures posted during a bloom season, because it's going to be gorgeous! :)
    How to Create Your Own Wildflower Meadow
    http://www.americanmeadows.com/plantinst.cfm

    Excellent information about 1/4 down from top of page:

    "Certain flowers and certain seasons: Another consideration is the flower seed you are planting. For example, perennials can really be planted at any time of year. They just may not germinate or bloom exactly when you'd like. Most of them have to go through a winter before they bloom, so if you plant perennial seed in spring or summer, do not expect bloom that year-only leaf and root growth. Annuals, of course, grow and bloom quickly and then die with their first frost. This means if you plant annuals in mid-summer, even if your weather cooperates, you won't have much bloom, if any, before frost gets them. If you're planting a mix of annuals and perennials (like most), fall, spring or early summer planting will bring annual bloom the first year, and then heavy perennial bloom plus some reseeded annual bloom the second and following years.
    Another consideration about annuals: If you plant in fall in cold-winter areas, you may lose the more tender species to late spring frosts after they germinate. Cosmos is one species that is susceptible to spring-kill, but favorites like red poppy and cornflower are tough "half-hardy annuals", and aren't fazed by a few spring frosts.
    Choosing a site. How to begin. First, you'll need to choose a place for your wildflower area. If you're planting an entire field of several acres, the decision is easy. If you're putting in a smaller area, there are several things to consider. Wildflowers look best in a semi-natural spot. Along a wood-line at the back of your lot, for example, or in a free-form area..."
    ===============================================================================
    Wildflowers
    http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/ga/laurens/ag/hort/hortnews/wildflowers.html
    tlspiegel


  • pinkfreud---harrowing experience indeed! I might even slip a disc.
    heh heh heh
    ron


  • That's excellent, pinkfreud. I have a harrow attachment. This functions much like dragging a chain link fence. Thx...ron


  • Hi Ron,

    I'm no gardner either, but since you're in Texas, you might want to have a looksee here: http://www.wildseedfarms.com/ Wildseed farms, supposedly the largest wildflower farm in the nation, is located just east of Fredericksburg and has acres and acres of wildflowers. The place is breathtaking in spring. If anyone knows about planting wildflowers on a large scale in this part of the country, I should think these folks would. Also, they're holding daily free fall planting seminars from 2-4 pm through this weekend, if that might be a possibility for you. See here: http://www.wildseedfarms.com/fall_planting_days.htm
    Another place here to get some information would be the Ladybird Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin. You might be able to get some information from them also about planting, especially here in Texas. Here's the main site: http://www.wildflower.org/ Btw, if you've never visited, it's also well worth seeing. Depending where you're located, if you need to make a special trip, plan it for spring time and take in both places.
    I'm so happy to hear of this undertaking of yours. You go - and may your flowers bloom long and well! Good luck!
    Cheers,
    Byrd


  • Hi pinkfreud!

    Some is grassland, and some is grassland with weeds.

    I could plow up either section. Of course, if there
    is an easy way to plant flowers without plowing, that
    would be even better.

    Thanks!
    ron


  • Wildflowers
    http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/ga/laurens/ag/hort/hortnews/wildflowers.html

    tlspiegel









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