Wildflowers growing on a country road or in an alpine meadow can easily inspire homeowners to attempt to create native plant areas in their own yards. Others may just want to have attractive flowering plants in their yards that perform well with only a minimum of care. No matter which category that you fall into, having a wildflower strewn area on your own property is an achievable goal. However, although gardening with wildflowers is easier than coddling exotic plants that got their start in hothouse conditions, there are a few basic tips that will ensure that your efforts meet with success.
Why Native Plants Are Your Best Choice
Success with wildflower gardening will depend on choosing the right plants for your area, and that means using varieties that grow easily in your local region. For instance, wildflowers that are native to the sunny lands of Central America won’t be good choices for Alaskan gardens. By the same token, indigenous plants of the north may fail to thrive and even die when exposed to large amounts of heat and dry air. Even plants that are indigenous to the same region will have different cultural requirements.
Educational Resources Concerning Wildflower Cultivation
Native plant societies exist in many communities that are an excellent resource for those wishing to incorporate wildflowers into their home landscapes.
USDA zoning maps are excellent tools for those who are unsure of what wildflowers would grow best in their locate climates. Vermont Wildflower Farm wildflowers have all been tested in various agricultural zones, and information is available on their company website concerning which plants work best in various locations.
Getting Your Native Garden Off to a Good Start
Gardening with wildflowers requires a little more effort than simply broadcasting the contents of a packet of seeds onto prepared soil. Using top quality seeds and bulbs will give your native plant area a good head start. Proper soil preparation is essential to ensuring that the seeds you sow form strong and healthy plants. Existing vegetation should be removed and soil should only be tilled deeply enough to remove all old roots.
Once established, wildflower gardens aren’t difficult to maintain. Annual varieties reseed themselves reliability, and perennials and bulbs are sturdy plants that can live through most adverse conditions once established. There will be little danger, however, of your native plant area becoming weedy and neglected because you’ll be out there enjoying it every chance you get.