Please critique my high desert wildflower-planting plan

March 25, 2023 3:03 PM

I live at 8500ft in planting zone 6A, with a wild, half-frozen yard that is just starting to emerge from the snow. We don't get a ton of rain here, except in July when it's a monsoon. I'd like to sew these native wildflower seeds I have, but don't know exactly when I should do that, or whether my plan of attack is smart/right given the location and time of year.

Right now the yard is a mix of dirt, some dead wild grasses, juniper trees and pine trees. There are shady areas and sunny areas.

I don't have any heavy duty gardening equipment, but I do have a metal gravel rake and a watering can. Once the soil is soft enough to rake, I was planning to scratch some grooves/disrupt the top layer of soil. Then I was planning to soak the native wildflower seeds for 24 hours and then mix them with some cactus soil * (not sure the best ratio though) before scattering handfuls of the mix in the raked areas and then giving it all a sprinkle from the watering can.

*I also have some bone meal. Should I add some of that into the cactus soil/soaked wildflower mix?

Is there something else I should be doing instead of this plan? I am a gardening newb. Thanks!

posted by egeanin to Home & Garden (8 answers total)

I can't comment on the particulars but:

Some native seeds need proper scarification to break the seedcoat. This can include freezing conditions, high heat, or consistent rainfall. Also there is herbivory. Many of the seeds spread during revegetation will be eaten by birds, small mammals, etc. This reduction in the seed bank leads to fewer sprouts. However, putting down high lb/ac of seeds can be counterintuitive and lead to excessive competition when seedlings do sprout.

Typically we expect agricultural seeds to grow quickly, however native seeds are often adapted to growing slowly and only favorable times to ensure seed survival.

Sleep Creep and Leap is an aphorism that describes what could be an approximate 3 year germination window for some seed to germinate and grow plants
posted by falsedmitri at 3:39 PM on March 25, 2023

Contact your local State Extension. Here is a link to Colorado's, run out of CSU, your state probably has something similar if you are in the US.
posted by BoscosMom at 4:43 PM on March 25, 2023

What kind of seeds are they? Are they definitely native to your area? Do you have different mixes for the sunny and shady parts of your yard? Native plants are really wonderful and can be very low-maintenance but I’d urge you to make sure that you have appropriate seeds for your soil, moisture and aspect. If you get them from a reputable source (I mentioned Prairie Moon earlier this week, Prairie Nursery is another), they will provide details on how to prepare your site and sow the seed.
posted by sizeable beetle at 5:47 PM on March 25, 2023

Sowing technique and timing for native plants is a great use of your state extension service! Definitely start there.
posted by amtho at 6:44 PM on March 25, 2023

Quality wildflower seeds should come with specific instructions. Start there. And call the local extension office for advice. Wildflowers will get established in the right mix of sun, soil, moisture, so choosing the right flowers is important. Look at what grows wild near you; collecting seeds is easy.
posted by theora55 at 7:11 AM on March 26, 2023

The seeds are definitely local to my region and I have some for both shady and sunny. I got them from High Desert Seed + Gardens. I will call my extension office but curious as to whether the other stuff I posted sounds like it's vaguely in the right line of thinking?
posted by egeanin at 10:12 AM on March 26, 2023

You can also call a specialty vendor (like where you bought your seeds!). They generally have a LOT of expertise and would be happy to tell you all about the best way to set your seed purchase up for success.
posted by rockindata at 11:09 AM on March 26, 2023

*I also have some bone meal. Should I add some of that into the cactus soil/soaked wildflower mix?

Probably not? Seeds don't need fertilizer- the seed is the nutrition for the baby plant inside. And bone meal binds with calcium in alkaline soils, so unless your soil is acidic it's pointless to spread it as bone meal is unavailable when the pH is around 7.5 or higher.

If your soils are naturally low in phosphorous and your native seeds are perennial, they could possibly benefit from a dusting of bone meal just before summer starts. Otherwise save it for a vegetable garden.
posted by oneirodynia at 9:35 PM on March 26, 2023