Wildflowers

Fall is the season to plant wildflower seeds for the future. Keep Wimberley Beautiful periodically scatters wildflower seeds along our roadways.

Perhaps you have tried to plant wildflowers with minimal success. The seeds need to make contact with the soil so you should mow and then rake the area to expose the soil. It is recommended that you mix in vermiculite or sand with your seeds before planting. Scatter the seeds like you would chicken feed on your prepared spot. Now walk on the seeded area as this will insure good soil contact.

If I want a particular wildflower and do not know what the seedlings look like, I use a process that I will now share with you.

First block in a small plot with bricks, logs, stones or old lumber in the area (after mowing and raking) where you want the plants. Then put some potting soil in the small block. I purchase bagged soil so that I do not add weed seeds.

After scattering the desired seeds in the plot, press the soil down and water it.

You will need to monitor this small area to be certain it does not dry out.

I have used the above method to start Red flax, Greenthread, Monarda and American Basketflower in my backyard meadow. I then reuse the blocking material in another spot to initiate another desired plant. This is the method I will use to try to start the Two-leaf Senna that I wrote about a few weeks ago.

I hope you have success with planting wildflowers.

Written by Jackie Mattice, Hays County Master Naturalist