I have always loved wildflowers. I remember riding in the car with my mom as we drove out of the city and upstate and looking out the window at all of the beautiful flowers that grew along the side of the highways. I knew that once I had my own garden I wanted to recreate a wild look in my own beds. Fortunately, creating wildflower meadows in urban and suburban spaces is a bit of a trend right now and it is incredible easy to do even if you only have a small patch to grow in.
Choosing the Right Seed Mix
It is important when planning a garden to choose the best seed mix for your region. Lots of stores will sell wildflower mixes that have an arbitrary amalgamation of seeds that will probably grow well enough but may not be at their best in the climate of your region. You also want to be careful not to introduce any invasive species. Invasive species will ruin native wildlife habitat and alter ecosystems. When planting my garden I chose a regional mix from American Meadows (I do not receive any money from recommending their products). I like American Meadows because they allow you to choose native plants based on your growing region/zone and highlight specific plants that are good for supporting pollinators and attracting wildlife. They also offer how-to planting guides that help make planting very easy.
Location is Key!
Wildflower meadows need to be in an area with full sun. That means they need to have at least 6 hours of sun a day. When choosing the location of your wildflower meadow be certain to plant in an area that will get at least that much sun throughout the day. I had a patch of dirt near my backdoor that is south facing and receives sun all day long.
Ground Prep and Seeding
The area where you decide to plant your wildflower meadow requires very little preparation. If you decide to create your meadow in an established lawn there are a few things you need to do before you spread your seed. First, the lawn where you will do your seeding needs to be cut as short as possible. Next, the area needs to be raked somewhat aggressively to break up the soil surface and allow the seeds to have good contact with the soil. Thats it. (If you're going to seed in an already prepared bed then you're good to go!)
When your planting area is prepared and you're ready to sow your seeds check the seeding instructions on your seed mix. Some mixes recommend you mix your seed with sand so you can better see where you've sown your seeds and to ensure that you're not sowing too densely. Sowing too densely will only result in smaller potentially weaker plants. After you have spread your seed (I spread mine by hand, no need for special equipment.) be sure to walk over the entire area pressing the seeds into the ground. (If you are covering a large area you may want to use a roller.) Stepping on the seeds ensures the seeds will have good contact with the soil and will germinate.
When to Plant
When to plant your meadow really depends on your regional climate. Seeds can be sown in the fall to overwinter (if you live in temperate regions) or the spring. I live in the northeast and sowed my meadow in the spring and it has grown beautifully. Other regions that have long growing seasons or less variation across seasons can sow almost anytime, but check the specifics of your growing region to be certain.
Growing a wildflower meadow is easy and low maintenance. It enhances the beauty of your property and gives a natural, wild feel to your garden. I hope you try it. Good luck and happy gardening!