Everything You Might Need to Know!
| How Much Seed Do I Need? In planning a wildflower meadow or garden, first you need to choose your site and estimate the square footage of the area. To find the square footage of any square or rectangular area, simply multiply the length in feet times the width in feet. For example, a border 50 feet long and 10 feet wide is 500 sq. ft. in area (50 X 10 = 500). For a circle, the area is equal to “pi” r squared, or pi (3.1) times the radius of your circle, squared. If your circle is 20 feet across, its radius is half of that or 10 ft. So to get the square footage of the circle: 3.1 X 10 X 10 = 310 sq. ft. The amount of seed you should plant depends on the flower display you want. Most usually want dense or maximum bloom. All mixtures are pure wildflower seed, no fillers or grasses. The denser you sow your wildflower area with seed, the more you will hold out the weeds and grasses. Just be sure not to over seed, so your wildflowers do not compete with themselves for space! Our suggestion for dense coverage is as follows: 1 oz. covers approx. 100 sq ft ¼ lb covers approx. 250 sq ft ½ lb covers approx. 500 sq ft 1 lb covers approx. 1000 sq ft Note: If you have a large site, from ½ acre to several acres, your planting rate may be affected by land conditions. If you have heavy weeds on the site now, some erosion, generally poor soil, or other land problems, additional seed is usually the most economical solution. If your site does have some problems and you want to build in some assurance of full coverage, use a per pound coverage rate of 1000 sq ft. We usually suggest 50 lbs. per acre. BE SURE TO CONTACT US FOR OUR BULK DISCOUNTED PRICING starting at 5lbs. The larger the quantity the bigger the discount!!!!!! |
| How to Plant Like a Pro! Where to Plant: Unless you are planting our Partial Shade Mix or Woodland Species, choose a spot with as much sun as possible. For wildflowers, full sun is best. Most all soils are acceptable -- if any plant has grown in the spot, it should support wildflowers, which are tough and will adapt to the soil you provide for them. When to Plant: In spring when there is no further chance of a killing frost, meaning that your night time temperatures are maintaining 45 degrees and above. If you miss spring, you can plant in summer unless the weather is very hot. Fall planting, in areas with freezing weather, must be after a killing frost. A killing frost usually happens at 28-32 degrees Fahrenheit. Fall-planted seed sprouts and blooms several weeks earlier than spring planted seed. A fall planting is a dormant planting - seed germinates in the spring. In areas of no frost, plant as your rainy season begins. You can plant wildflowers in all three seasons. Now's the time to be thinking about next seasons wildflower garden! Get a head start now on your bloom for next year. Soil Preparation: This is the most important step in obtaining success of your wildflower planting, whether it is a small garden or a large meadow. Remove all existing growth, either by hand or by roto-tilling. Till only deep enough to remove all old roots. Deep tilling may bring up dormant weed seeds lying beneath which will compete with your flowers. If you want to be sure your soil is “weed seed free”, you’ll have to till, wait for the crop of new weeds to grow, usually one to three weeks and then do one of two things; kill them down with one of the safe, non-residual herbicides such as “Round-up” or to till again as in step one. If you use the herbicide method, then once the weeds are dead, rake them out and seed your wildflowers without roto-tilling again. If using the roto-till method, you can seed after the second or third tilling. About Fertilizer: When you choose to plant wildflowers there is usually minimal weeding done…and fertilizer will encourage the weeds and grasses. Fertilizer is not necessary for a great wildflower garden or meadow. (No one fertilizes in the wild or along roadsides), but if you want this extra boost for your flowers, fertilize only where you are willing to weed. Sowing: Once your soil is prepared and free of previous growth, it’s important to sow immediately. (If you let time go by between preparation and spreading your seed, you’re giving possible weeds an advantage over your wildflower seed). You can use a hand crank seed sower, but most simply scatter the seed by hand. If you want to be sure to get good, even coverage, divide your seed into two roughly equal parts, in two buckets or cans. Then add clean sandbox sand to both halves, roughly 4-5 parts of sand to 1 part of seed. The sand does two things: It “dilutes” the seed, making it easier to sow evenly, and since it’s light-colored, it shows you “where you’ve been” on the dark soil as you go. Next, sow one bucket’s mix over your whole area. Then go back in the opposite direction and do the same with the second bucket. This way, you should have even spreading and no bare spots. Once seed is sown, do not rake or cover it in any way. If you can, use a lawn roller or lay down a large board and walk on it to compress (squash down) the seed into the bare soil. Remember, some of the seed you’re sowing is tiny; even the lightest covering of soil can stop it from germinating. Keep your new seedbed moist until seedlings are about 6-8” tall. After that, they should be self- sufficient; however watering during droughts will keep your flowers blooming. Know your Annuals, Perennials, Biennials: If you are planting one of our regional mixes, your seed is approximately 50% wild annuals, which will bloom the first year, and 50% wild perennials, which won’t bloom until the second year. The annuals are quick-growing, quick-blooming and will bloom for months, and then die with a killing frost. Most do reseed, but the seed must fall on bare ground to re-grow the next spring. Perennials are the flowers that “come back every year” from the same roots, forming expanding clumps in your meadow over the years. Biennials bloom the second year, and are killed by that year’s frost. However, they are heavy re-seeders, and usually reappear in the meadow. Maintenance: The amount of work you want to put into your meadow area is up to you. The only requirement is a once-a-year mowing in fall after killing frosts—to disperse seed and to keep down brushy growth. Another good practice is to identify areas that have become weak or weed-filled, and to reseed those spots, the same way you repair bare spots in a lawn. Once you are able to identify weeds, hand pulling is a viable method of control for the small to medium garden. Any weed that you can pull will constitute to the success of your garden for years. One weed can disperse thousands of seeds, so get ‘em out of there if you can. If you have a large planting and you notice an area of weeds, then the above method of re-tilling and re-seeding that area is your way to obtain maximum success. Be Patient and Enjoy! Be patient while your garden or meadow establishes but once it has you’ll notice small wildlife, many birds, butterflies and other insects that are attracted to your wild garden; observing these visitors is one of the greatest pleasures of growing wildflowers. Mow paths through your meadow, put in benches and bird-feeders, and enjoy it all for years to come. Still have questions! Contact us at anytime, that's what we're here for! (802) 425-3641 or email us at: vermontwildflowerfarm@yahoo.com |
| Did You Know? ** All of our seed is 100% fresh wildflower seed, no fillers or grasses. ** We test all of our seed in order to provide you with the highest quality. ** All of our seed is hand packed at the Farm. ** All of our mixes contain early, mid and late season bloomers! ** All orders come with planting instructions! ** We offer bulk seed discounts on 5 lbs or more! Free Shipping! ** For smaller areas we do sell our individual species by the packet! Price: $ 2.95 each or buy 10 or more for $ 1.00 each. ** You can purchase wildflower seed anytime. You can purchase it and save it or if you bought a bit too much, keep it!! THAT’S RIGHT! As long as you store it in a cool dry place, then it will be good for years! We guarantee it! ** VWF HAS BEEN IN BUSINESS FOR 26+ YEARS! (Selling, Growing and Creating!) ** Our Retail Seed and Gift Shop is 2200 sq ft. First floor is our gift shop. Second floor is our seed and book shop and the entrance to our gardens! **WE OFFER GIFT CERTIFICATES! |
Ask About Our Instructional DVD!
Everything you need to know about creating and planting your
wildflower garden or meadow!
Call us to get your copy today! ONLY $7.95
Everything you need to know about creating and planting your
wildflower garden or meadow!
Call us to get your copy today! ONLY $7.95
Other Questions You Might Ask!
What is a Wildflower?
A wildflower, also called a forb, is a plant that grows without human care.
What is the difference between a wildflower and a weed?
There isn't any real difference between a wildflower and a weed. Both have stems, leaves, and flowers. "Weed" is just a term
people use to call an unwanted plant that grows in a garden or lawn. Wildflowers (and weeds) attract lots of insects and other
animals. One person's weed is another's wildflower :)
What is a Native?
A native plant is usually defined as one that was growing naturally in a specific area before white or European settlement.
What will happen if I change a lawn area to wildflowers?
Growing wildflowers in place of lawn requires a new way of looking at your home landscape and is the number one trend in
gardening right now. This type of garden will not be as formal as a perennial border. However, informality does not mean neglect.
A wildflower garden can be a rich collection of ever-changing colors and textures. The results can be spectacular!
If you are considering this on your own property, remembering a few extra "elements" can make your natural landscape
spectacular. These include adding a decorative fencing around a planting, or perhaps a path through your natural wildflower
garden, the simple touch of a bench, and birdhouses. All of these show that the "natural landscape" is planned and meant-to-be.
Wildflower gardens and meadows are easy, cost effective and beautiful!!!
Is Purple Loosestrife a wildflower?
Purple loosestrife may appear to be an attractive wildflower, but it is non-native, extremely aggressive, and a serious problem in
our wetlands. A natural hybrid between the European garden variety and our native species is crowding out other wetland plants,
reducing food for wildlife. "Noxious weeds" are identified by your states Department of Agriculture. These are plants that
seriously endanger the health of humans or livestock, or have a serious negative effect on crops or natural areas. Both native and
non-native species, such as field bindweed, hemp, poison ivy, leafy spurge, and several thistles, are on the noxious weed list. If
you see this noxious weed, you should get rid of it. Small infestations of young purple loosestrife plants may be pulled by hand,
preferably before seed set. For older plants or large infestations contact your State Dept. of Agriculture for recommendations. We
keep a few plants at the wildflower farm for educational and identification purposes only.
What is an Annual, Perennial and Biennial?
Annuals are plants that perform their entire life cycle - seed to flower to seed - within a single growing season. All roots, stems
and leaves of the plant die annually. Only the dormant seed bridges the gap between one generation and the next.
Perennials are plants that grow persistently for many seasons. Generally the top portion of the plant dies back each fall and
regrows the following spring from the same root system (e.g. Purple Coneflower). When starting perennial plants from seed,
blooms will be observed in either the spring or summer of the second year and each year thereafter.
Biennials are plants that require two years to complete their life cycle. First season growth results in a small set of leaves near
the soil’s surface. During the second season's growth, a stem will appear, the plant will flower and seed will form. This is followed
by the entire plant's death.
Do I have to water my wildflowers?
Your wildflower seeds will require enough moisture to germinate and develop into healthy seedlings. For best results, the area
should be kept moist for four to six weeks during the establishment period. If natural rainfall is inadequate, supplemental
watering with a garden hose may be necessary. Light applications of water should be applied to keep the ground moist. Once
your wildflowers begin to germinate do not allow the site to completely dry out, but avoid over-watering the area. If the soil
becomes overly saturated, the seedlings could die from the lack of oxygen supplied to the root system.
How frequently you water your newly planted area will depend on local rainfall and soil types. You may need to water every couple
of days. After your seedlings are 6 to 8 inches in height, your wildflowers should become self sufficient and watering should be
applied only if the plants show signs of stress.
What are some of the most common mistakes people make when planting a
wildflower garden or meadow?
- Improper site evaluation - too wet, too shady, no sun etc.
- Rototilling deeper than 4 inches - which disturbs dormant weed seed that will compete with your wildflowers.
- Covering the seed or planting beneath the soil surface. Remember: simply rolling or walking over a newly planted area will
achieve proper seed/soil contact and aid in germination.
- Planting when its too cold or when its too hot!
- Over watering your area! Remember: don't over do it, just keep them moist while they are seedlings!
- Trying to cover a large area with a small amount of seed. Recommended seeding rates are important.
- Extreme weather conditions: hail, drought, excessive rainfall, floods, unseasonably cold temperatures
- IMPATIENCE!
What is a Wildflower?
A wildflower, also called a forb, is a plant that grows without human care.
What is the difference between a wildflower and a weed?
There isn't any real difference between a wildflower and a weed. Both have stems, leaves, and flowers. "Weed" is just a term
people use to call an unwanted plant that grows in a garden or lawn. Wildflowers (and weeds) attract lots of insects and other
animals. One person's weed is another's wildflower :)
What is a Native?
A native plant is usually defined as one that was growing naturally in a specific area before white or European settlement.
What will happen if I change a lawn area to wildflowers?
Growing wildflowers in place of lawn requires a new way of looking at your home landscape and is the number one trend in
gardening right now. This type of garden will not be as formal as a perennial border. However, informality does not mean neglect.
A wildflower garden can be a rich collection of ever-changing colors and textures. The results can be spectacular!
If you are considering this on your own property, remembering a few extra "elements" can make your natural landscape
spectacular. These include adding a decorative fencing around a planting, or perhaps a path through your natural wildflower
garden, the simple touch of a bench, and birdhouses. All of these show that the "natural landscape" is planned and meant-to-be.
Wildflower gardens and meadows are easy, cost effective and beautiful!!!
Is Purple Loosestrife a wildflower?
Purple loosestrife may appear to be an attractive wildflower, but it is non-native, extremely aggressive, and a serious problem in
our wetlands. A natural hybrid between the European garden variety and our native species is crowding out other wetland plants,
reducing food for wildlife. "Noxious weeds" are identified by your states Department of Agriculture. These are plants that
seriously endanger the health of humans or livestock, or have a serious negative effect on crops or natural areas. Both native and
non-native species, such as field bindweed, hemp, poison ivy, leafy spurge, and several thistles, are on the noxious weed list. If
you see this noxious weed, you should get rid of it. Small infestations of young purple loosestrife plants may be pulled by hand,
preferably before seed set. For older plants or large infestations contact your State Dept. of Agriculture for recommendations. We
keep a few plants at the wildflower farm for educational and identification purposes only.
What is an Annual, Perennial and Biennial?
Annuals are plants that perform their entire life cycle - seed to flower to seed - within a single growing season. All roots, stems
and leaves of the plant die annually. Only the dormant seed bridges the gap between one generation and the next.
Perennials are plants that grow persistently for many seasons. Generally the top portion of the plant dies back each fall and
regrows the following spring from the same root system (e.g. Purple Coneflower). When starting perennial plants from seed,
blooms will be observed in either the spring or summer of the second year and each year thereafter.
Biennials are plants that require two years to complete their life cycle. First season growth results in a small set of leaves near
the soil’s surface. During the second season's growth, a stem will appear, the plant will flower and seed will form. This is followed
by the entire plant's death.
Do I have to water my wildflowers?
Your wildflower seeds will require enough moisture to germinate and develop into healthy seedlings. For best results, the area
should be kept moist for four to six weeks during the establishment period. If natural rainfall is inadequate, supplemental
watering with a garden hose may be necessary. Light applications of water should be applied to keep the ground moist. Once
your wildflowers begin to germinate do not allow the site to completely dry out, but avoid over-watering the area. If the soil
becomes overly saturated, the seedlings could die from the lack of oxygen supplied to the root system.
How frequently you water your newly planted area will depend on local rainfall and soil types. You may need to water every couple
of days. After your seedlings are 6 to 8 inches in height, your wildflowers should become self sufficient and watering should be
applied only if the plants show signs of stress.
What are some of the most common mistakes people make when planting a
wildflower garden or meadow?
- Improper site evaluation - too wet, too shady, no sun etc.
- Rototilling deeper than 4 inches - which disturbs dormant weed seed that will compete with your wildflowers.
- Covering the seed or planting beneath the soil surface. Remember: simply rolling or walking over a newly planted area will
achieve proper seed/soil contact and aid in germination.
- Planting when its too cold or when its too hot!
- Over watering your area! Remember: don't over do it, just keep them moist while they are seedlings!
- Trying to cover a large area with a small amount of seed. Recommended seeding rates are important.
- Extreme weather conditions: hail, drought, excessive rainfall, floods, unseasonably cold temperatures
- IMPATIENCE!
| Can't find an order button on our Seed pages? Hmmmm? Why? We ask that you phone or fax in your seed orders to our Retail Location. We do this to provide you with personalized customer service concerning wildflower gardening and your order. It also allows us to eliminate online processing and get your order in and out the door in 24 hours. You won't find faster service for seed orders! |
