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| Next to my yard is an open space that contains wild grass and white wild daisies in the summer. I want to broadcast some seeds over this large area (100 x 100) and have it become a wildflower garden. We have bees and they would love it. I have many other gardens to work so I am really hoping to just do the easiest thing possible for a bit more color and beauty. The soil is poor and more wet than dry as the grass piles up upons itself year after year. I could open up patches with a rake or pronged tool to get the seeds to the soil, but I do not want to undertake a tractor with a plow, or a tiller, I already have more than enough going on outside, so again, I am looking for an easy fix. Will broadcasting work? or should I dig patches to open up the soil? Appreciate any suggestions. |
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| I am not sure what would be best for your patch or Wisconsin. But this link may help. |
Here is a link that might be useful: Regional wild flower mixtures
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| In my climate, if not doing the poison/till thing, we get reasonable results from mowing really, really low, then scratching up the surface, broadcasting and scratching again or spreading a light layert of compost on top. Grass is extremely competitive, so be realistic about what you plant and stick to tough, aggressive species. |
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| We are told that we need to eliminate as much competition as possible so the "wild flower" seeds we sow will grow, but Ma Nature does not do that. The seeds are scattered wily nily and most do grow, and grow quite well from the wild meadows I have seen. Some seeds do better if spread in the fall while others seem to do better if sown in the spring. I would just scatter what you have around and see what happens. Seems to be a large waste of time and energy (non renewable at that) to mow that field before seeding. |
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| When trying to establish wildflowers in a location where they are not already, tilling, burning, plowing etc. are done to eliminate competition. Broadcasting over growth in situ will yield disappointment, but to obtain the best possible outcome, use seed indigenous to your specific locale and prep the seed in a manner consistent with its propagation. (some need freeze cycling, burning, striating, etc.) Good Luck |
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| A wildflower meadow doesn't grow naturally amidst "an old field of long grass" and I'd be pretty surprised if much seed germinated without some extra help. Most plants in wildflower meadows die down after seeding, leaving some bare-ish ground to start the cycle again. If fossil fuels are a concern, I hear that scythes, once mastered, are very efficient and a great workout! |
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- Posted by idaho_gardener 6a_sw_idaho (My Page) on Mon, Apr 25, 11 at 1:21
| I like the 'burn' suggestion. I burn weeds every year to clean out irrigation ditches. It works ok. If you can get the area you want to plant mowed, that would help a bit. Burn off what you can, broadcast seed, then mulch with anything organic; wood chips, composted manure, shredded leaves, grass clippings, whatever. Easy peasy. |
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| Keep in m ind that to burn off that field jeannmarie will most likely need a permit and will need to demonstrate to the issuer that there will be a lage number of people there to keep that fire confined to the area, or will be assessed the cost of extinguishing that fire if it does get out of control. Plus burning that organic matter will produce large amounts of pollutants that will adversly affect the health of many people. Om rare occassion Ma Nature will cause a field, or forest, to burn to allow some plant species to grow, but for the most part she grows plants in vacant fields without clearing them off first. |
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- Posted by lazygardens PhxAZ%3A Sunset 13 (My Page) on Mon, Apr 25, 11 at 13:10
| kimmsr said, We are told that we need to eliminate as much competition as possible so the "wild flower" seeds we sow will grow, but Ma Nature does not do that. The seeds are scattered wily nily and most do grow, and grow quite well from the wild meadows I have seen. Meadows go through a sequence of plants, just like forests. They start with an accidental clearing - maybe a forest fire or a landslide, and the early arrivals are different from the later ones. When you get a "climax" meadow (old and stable) you have to wait for a plant to die off or get eaten to leave a bare spot. Mowing, scything, heavy grazing, or burning will be needed to get rid of the tall grass to let the less competitive flowers get established. |
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- Posted by tsugajunkie z5 SE WI (My Page) on Tue, Apr 26, 11 at 3:26
| Neil Diboll of Prairie Nursery in Westfield, WI has a genuine love of the prairie. I'd contact him for advice moving forward. I know he'd opt for clearing the area, but he may also suggest some tough plants to plant through the grass. tj |
Here is a link that might be useful: Prairie Nursery
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- Posted by emgardener (My Page) on Tue, May 3, 11 at 22:45
| Before I had broadcast wildflower seeds into the grasses and it failed. This year I cleared the grasses before raking the wildflower seeds into the meadow. Well the birds, deer, rabbits, and mice munched up all the flower shoots. So now it is just a dirt patch with thistles starting to take over. Peaceful Valley, where I bought the flower mix from, recommended you first plant a short grass to act as a nurse crop to the flowers. I didn't do this unfortunately and now once again have been reminded to follow the directions and not take shortcuts. I'll try again next fall. |
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