Planting the seed... how hard can it be?

The first time I tried to grow flowers from seed, I failed miserably. Yes, the seeds sprouted and the flowers bloomed, but the bed didn't look good. There were concentrated patches of flowers and bare sports. Weeds took over some areas. Tall flowers completely overshadowed the shorter plants. I was disappointed, but not ready to give up. There is an art to growing plants from seed, be it flowers or veggies.

First decide when you want to plant. Best time is to plant right before the rainiest  season begins.  Fall is the natural choice, because it gives the seeds a head start in early spring when they germinate. It is after all the nature's way.  You can also  plant in early spring, about one week before the last average frost date, or as  recommended on the seed package. Avoid planting in summer.

Your site may determine the time of year you plant. If it is a flat site, you can plant any time you like. If it's sloped, you should probably choose spring, because fall planted seed is subject to washing out. The shorter the time the seeds lie on the ground, the better the chance they will not be washed out.

If you decide to plant in fall, wait until the soil is so chilled that seed cannot sprout, but stays dormant until warming soil and moisture trigger germination in spring. Usually until after frost. 

One disadvantage of fall planting is that you have no idea how much weed seed may be in the soil in your cleared area. However, with fall planting, your flower seed at least has a level playing field with any weed seed that's there. 

If you choose to sow in the spring, timing is crucial. Most gardeners plant around the time of the last average frost.  Once you clear your ground you'll want to sow your seed immediately thereafter-if possible on the same day or the day after. The minute you open the ground, you turn up weed seeds that are in all soil. If you wait before putting in your flower seed, those weed seeds have an important jump start on the flowers, and they may quickly overpower the flower seeds.

Clear the ground and do not sow seeds, instead encourage the weeds to grow. After the weeds emerge and you see the seedlings wait till they are big enough to pull out, and dispose of them. Remember not to disturb the soil again, as it will encourage the weed seeds that are still in the ground to come up and germinate.

  Unless your soil is actually sterile, which is rare, it is recommended that you use your   

  soil as you find it. Wildflowers, as we see on every roadside, are extremely adaptable. If

  anything is growing in the area-even if it's just grasses or weeds-the area should support

  wildflowers with the soil just as you found it.

  Wildflowers do not need fertilizer to grow well and they require little care. But if you want

  to give yours a boost, you can. Be sure to use a fertilizer that is low in nitrogen. 

You can either simply  sow the seeds, trying to spread them around evenly, or you can separate the seed into roughly two equal parts. Put the first half in a clean container, and then add in roughly ten parts of light sand to your one part of seed. The sand dilutes the seed and helps you spread it more evenly. And since it is lighter-colored than the soil, you'll be able to see where the seeds have been spread as you sow.

Sow the first half of your seed/sand mix over the whole area to be seeded, as evenly as possible. Then go back, mix the second half of your seed with sand the same as the first, and then spread that half over the whole area. This is a great way to avoid bare spots.

Once all your seed is evenly sown, do not rake or cover it with soil. (Some species require light to germinate.) Instead, simply compress the seed into the loose, bare soil. You can use a lawn roller  or walk over the whole area, making sure to cover the area with footprints.  Compressing the seed into soil creates the seed to soil contact which is a major aid in successful seed germination.

Remember that all plants - even wildflowers - require moisture and favorable temperature

range to germinate. (Cold slows them down, and intense heat can do the same.) Warm

days and cool nights are best. While certain wildflower species germinate in as little as

eight days, other may not appear for months. Soon after seeding, you might want to pull

some weeds that come up with your flowers. If you can't tell them from your new

seedlings, leave them alone.

Once a year, you'll need to mow your wildflower area. Wait until late fall, until all your flowers have ripened and dropped their seeds. Then with a weed trimmer, or your mower set on a high setting, mow the whole area. More importantly, this once-a-year mowing removes tree and brush seedlings that creep into any open field, and if left un-mowed, will eventually take over your meadow.

Other than once-a-year mowing in the fall and perhaps some new seed in weak spots in spring, that's about all you will need to do. Well, apart enjoying your wildflower garden!