Description
Our Bird & Butterfly Wildflower Mix blooms spring, summer and fall. It provides nectar and seeds for songbirds, hummingbirds and butterflies.
Consists of: Black-Eyed Susan, Blanketflower, Butterfly Milkweed, California Poppy, Candytuft, China Aster, Dwarf Cornflower, Dwarf Godetia, Dwarf Plains Coreopsis, Dwarf Red Coneflower, Gayfeather, Indian Blanket, Lance-Leaved Coreopsis, Lemon Mint, Perennial Lupine, Purple Coneflower, Rocket Larkspur, Scarlet Sage, Wallflower and Sweet Alyssum.
Planting rate = 11-22 lbs./acre,
1/2 lb./1,000 sq. ft.
About Pollinator Wildflower mixes
More than one third of the food we eat needs to be pollinated by bees. There are over 4,000 species of native bees in the United States. When planting a pollinator preserve try to avoid using herbicides and pesticides. Inter-planting native grasses with our pollinator mixes provides a more diverse habitat.
General Growing Information
When to Plant
The best time to plant in your area depends on the climate and rainfall patterns as well as the species you are planting. In cool climates, plant annuals, perennials or mixtures of annuals and perennials in spring, early summer or late fall. Fall plantings should be late enough so that seeds do not germinate until spring. Perennials can also be sown in early fall provided that there are at least 10-12 weeks of growing time before the plants go dormant for the winter. Late fall plantings are advantageous when supplemental irrigation cannot be provided and adequate rainfall is anticipated in the spring. In mild climates, plant during the cooler months of the year, fall through spring, for best results. Fall plantings done prior to periods of rainfall will insure an early display of flowers the following spring.
Site Preparation
Prepare soil like a vegetable garden. Remove vegetation or spray with an herbicide. Follow directions on label of herbicide if used. Loosen soil 2″ deep and rake smooth.
Sowing Seed
Broadcast seeds evenly by hand or with a grass seed spreader. Mixing seed with sand (use clean builders sand, not play sand) or vermiculite facilitates even distribution. Rake seeds lightly into soil, about 1/8″ deep.
Water and Fertilization
Keep consistently moist 4-6 weeks, then gradually reduce water to 1/2″ per week. Do not water fall plantings until spring. If soil is poor, apply a 5-10-5 fertilizer.
Maintenance
Pull weeds as soon as they can be identified. In late fall, cut plants to 5″ tall to assure continuing color. Consider overseeding every year for maximum bloom.
What to Expect
Wildflowers can provide an excellent, low cost landscaping alternative. However, during their initial establishment period, wildflowers require as much maintenance as traditional plantings. A wildflower planting requires the same weed control measures as traditional landscaping.
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