Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
Gardens gone wild
For a colorful display of native, naturalized wildflowers in spring, fall is the time for planning, planting
Fall is an ideal time to get a wildflower garden established in Arkansas. More than 600 species of wildflowers are native to the state, and many others have been introduced and naturalized.
Wildflowers grace our roadways and scenic drives. Many are also planted in home gardens, along with other flowers and shrubs, for beauty.
There are wildflowers that bloom as spring ephemerals — here today and gone tomorrow — and some that bloom in the summer, fall and even in winter. Some like shade and others thrive in full sun.
KNOW YOUR SPACE
When choosing wildflowers, try to pick plants that need the growing conditions your site provides — sun versus shade, good soil versus poor, wet versus dry.
As with any garden, it all comes down to the right plant for the right spot. Decide what type of garden you want. Do you want to intersperse some wildflowers in with your existing landscape, or create a meadow or a woodland garden? Make sure that you choose a variety of plants, with some that bloom in every season so you can extend the show.
GET READY
Wildflowers can be planted from seed or transplants. Prepare the site well. You can’t just throw out a packet of seed on an unprepared area and sit back and wait for a wildflower meadow.
You need to kill the grass and weeds that are in the area. If you plant in a field of grass and weeds, you will have a field of grass and weeds with a few wildflowers, but overall it will be messy. Weeds and grass are always going to be a bit of a problem in full sun beds, but with proper planning, you can reduce the issues.
The larger the planting, the more planning is required. And maintenance will be ongoing — as with any garden.
Once the area has been cleared of weeds and grass, till the soil and lightly rake it. If you have pitiful rocky soil, you may want to amend with compost before tilling and planting.
SOW SEEDS SOON
Wildflowers can be grown from seed or plants. Seeds are cheaper but require more diligence than using transplants.
If using seeds, fall is the best time to plant. Some seeds need a cold, moist chilling period called stratification before they will germinate. By sowing in the fall, the seeds get the stratification period naturally.
We also usually have ample rainfall in the fall and winter, which can aid in germination and establishment.
Depending on the size of the area you are planting, you can hand sow the seeds or use a broadcast spreader. A general rule is to sow 2 to 4 pounds of wildflower seed per 1,000 square feet.
Mixing seeds with sand can also help. Three to four parts of sand mixed with one part seeds helps distribute the seeds evenly.
Once you sow the seeds, make sure they come into firm contact with the soil. Lightly rake the area — or you can roll the area. A roller is an empty drum that you fill with water and roll over the planting area, helping press seeds and soil into contact.
Once you sow and plant, water well, if possible.
SHADY START
When choosing plants for the shade garden it is often helpful to start with plants versus seeds since many of the shade lovers are slow to germinate. If you have deep shade, save yourself some frustration and start from transplants. Gardeners with light shade conditions may find they can get some shade-loving plants to sprout from seed, including columbine, foxglove, and cornflowers.
THREE OPTIONS
Wildflowers are classified as annuals, biennials or perennials.
Annuals are plants that grow, flower and die in one season, but often overseed themselves.
Biennials grow foliage the first season, then flower, set seeds and die the second season.
Perennials are plants that come back for more than one season.
Annuals and biennials must be allowed time to set seed and have the seed mature so they can reseed themselves in the wildflower planting. Perennials return from the root system but also can multiply by seed.
Having a mix of annuals and perennials ensures flowering on Year One. Seedgrown perennials may take two seasons before they have good blooms. Adding a few wildflower plants along with the seeds also can aid in establishment and give earlier blooming.
When buying wildflower seed, it is helpful to buy from a source as close to where you live as possible, ensuring hardiness.
FAMILIAR IMMIGRANTS
While many wildflower books or reference guides list Queen Anne’s lace and oxeye daisy as wildflowers, both are introduced plants, originally from Europe, that have naturalized in our state. Both thrive in our growing conditions and can take over, excluding many natives, so
use with caution.
MAINTENANCE
The size of your wildflower garden can determine long-term care. Most home gardeners are not going to have large meadows or prairies, but many will add a few wildflowers interspersed in a flower garden, which can be easily maintained with weeding, division and fall cleanup. Wildflower gardens can look a bit unkempt at the end of the growing season, but that is a required step to ensure good seed set for future generations.
Weed control is often the biggest challenge, since anything that could kill a broadleaf weed will also kill your wildflowers. A good hoe and proper mulching can help. Large acres of wildflowers are often maintained by controlled burning every few years.
Statewide, the Arkansas Highway and Transporta- tion Department is working to ensure more wildflowers along state roadways in three ways: the Wildflower Route program, showcasing the highways with wildflowers; Operation Wildflower, which establishes new wildflower populations; and the Wildflower Sign program, designed to increase public awareness of the highway wildflower programs.
These efforts help reduce long-term maintenance costs for the department, enhance roadside wildlife habitat, provide an attractive roadside environment and preserve native plant populations. To learn more about these programs, scroll to “WildFlower Program” under the heading “Programs” at arkansashighways.com. Janet B. Carson is a horticulture specialist for the University of Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.