Wildflower
Landscaping
by Tina Fountain
Take a hike through a meadow in full bloom and chances
are you'll wish you could recreate a smaller version in
your own yard. The colors and varieties of flowers and
grasses are totally random, yet about as close to
landscaped perfection that you'll ever find. Whether you
have a large expanse or a small area, a wildflower garden
can be a unique addition to your landscaping plan. Soil & Site Preparation: Determine your soil type,
adding to it if needed. For instance, a sandy or clay type The native plants are hardy and once established require
soil will benefit from added organic matter which breaks little care, fertilizer or watering. In a true wildflower
up heavy soils, improving ability to absorb water and garden, the flowers are planted close together. This allows
provides air flow to the roots. The other effective method them to provide shelter for one another, conserve water,
for improving poor soil is to plant a "green manure crop" and helps to eliminate weeds. The brightly colored
such as buckwheat. Let it grow for a year and plow it flowers attract a variety of birds and butterflies and can
under. The roots will draw up the nutrients from the lower provide a taste of wilderness even in the most urban
soil and convert them into organic matter.setting,
In addition to proper growing conditions and good soil, Once a wildflower garden is fully established, you can sit
the most important factor in growing a successful back and enjoy, but the real effort comes with the soil
wildflower garden is having a smooth surface, free of preparation and maintenance in the first two or three
weeds. The first step is to remove any existing vegetation years. Here is a guide to the successful planning and
by smothering, cultivating, herbiciding or a combination planting of your own wildflower meadow.
of these.
Designing Your Garden: Plant a combination of On smaller areas, smothering is an effective method of
wildflowers and native grasses. The most common eliminating weeds. Cover the planting area with dark
complaint from new gardeners is that the garden bloomed plastic, tarps, old carpeting, plywood or a thick layer of
beautifully the first year and proceeded to get sparser in leaves for a complete growing season. Adding a layer of
subsequent years, accompanied by a high concentration newspaper before covering will enrich the soil even more.
of weeds. This is often the result of choosing a seed As the paper decomposes, worms will move in, adding
mixture consisting of non-native annuals instead of true even more nutrients.
native, perennial wildflowers and grasses. With the latter
species, you shouldn't expect blooms until the third year. A broad spectrum, non-persistent herbicide will also do
the trick, especially on larger areas. The third alternative is When choosing plants, use a combination of spring and
to cultivate the area using a rototiller or tractor.late bloomers, as well as a mixture of tall and low-
growing species. Planting: Once you have prepared your site, purchase
your seeds from a reliable grower. On areas less than one Flowers that attract birds or butterflies, include Blazing
acre, the seeds can be dispersed by hand, by mixing with a stars, coneflowers, asters, silphiums and sunflowers. If
lightweight material such as vermiculite, peat moss or deer are a problem in your area, choose a combination of
sawdust. For a 1000 square foot planting, combine one deer resistant seeds such as lavender hyssop, nodding
bushel basket of this material, dampened slightly, with wild onion, coreopsis, purple clover, purple coneflower
your seed. Take half the mixture and spread across the and meadow rose.
area. When spreading the second half, walk perpendicular
to your first spreading. If the soil is dry, proceed to roll the Choose a sunny location with good air circulation. Your
area. If it is wet, then wait until it dries slightly to avoid wildflowers will need a minimum of one half day of full
compacting the soil.sun to really thrive. Steep north-facing slopes tend to be
sheltered from the sun and are not the best candidates for About the Author
meadows, but do well with ferns or woodland Search Kennesaw GA condos at TinaFountain.com, the home
wildflowers. of Kennesaw real estate experts.
Today s Senior Magazine does not endorse copy of contents of articles, editorials or ads 25 Like to do things online? TodaysSeniorMagazine.com
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