Hi There !

I want to plant flowers (wildflowers?)on a 1.5 acre parcel of land.
The goal is to cover the entire area with flowers.

This is obviously much bigger than your normal garden, and I am a
cheapskate.
Therefore, I need to know the most inexpensive (and least time
consuming) way to do this.

1.  Bulk seed?   
2.  Spreading the seed over a wide area---on the ground surface
without actually planting the seed *in* the dirt?
3.  Using my tractor in some way?

A 5-star answer would be your opinion in 1-2 paragraphs.  No
supporting documentation or web sites required.


All comments greatly appreciated.

Thanks!
ron

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2003 17:43 PDT

Does your land have grass and/or weeds on it, or is it bare dirt?

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Clarification of Question by nronronronro-ga on 17 Sep 2003 17:48 PDT

Hi pinkfreud!

Some is grassland, and some is grassland with weeds.

I could plow up either section.  Of course, if there
is an easy way to plant flowers without plowing, that
would be even better.

Thanks!
ron

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Request for Question Clarification by pinkfreud-ga on 17 Sep 2003 17:55 PDT

I'm going to leave your question to be answered by a Researcher with
firsthand experience doing this sort of thing (I hope). I am a city
kid, and my gardening experience has been very small-scale (just
backyard stuff); I think you need advice from someone who has more of
a farming background.

Here's some interesting reading:

http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/prairie/msg0316164030617.html

http://www.lincstrust.co.uk/facts/meadow/wildflower.html

http://ag.arizona.edu/yavapai/anr/hort/byg/archive/wildflowermeadow.html

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07233.html

http://www.wildlifetrust.org.uk/berksbucksoxon/publications/factsheets/MEADOWS.pdf

A booklet that might be useful:

http://www.gardenguides.com/countrywisdombulletins/creatingawildflowermeadow.htm

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Clarification of Question by nronronronro-ga on 17 Sep 2003 18:00 PDT

Thanks, pinkfreud !

This might be helpful:

"For an even distribution of wildflower seed, mix six parts dry sand
with one part seed. For small areas, spread the mix by hand. On larger
areas, use a cyclone-type fertilizer/seed spreader. For small areas,
light raking can help ensure good seed contact with soil. For large
areas, it's faster to pull a section of chain-link fence behind a
tractor."

http://www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/garden/07233.html

That's excellent, pinkfreud.  I have a harrow attachment.  This
functions much like dragging a chain link fence.  Thx...ron

So this is going to be a harrowing experience for you? :-D

(Sorry, cannot resist the opportunity for a little wordplay.)

Wildflowers
http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/ga/laurens/ag/hort/hortnews/wildflowers.html

tlspiegel

We're going to need pictures posted during a bloom season, because
it's going to be gorgeous!  :)

How to Create Your Own Wildflower Meadow
http://www.americanmeadows.com/plantinst.cfm

Excellent information about 1/4 down from top of page:

"Certain flowers and certain seasons: Another consideration is the
flower seed you are planting. For example, perennials can really be
planted at any time of year. They just may not germinate or bloom
exactly when you'd like. Most of them have to go through a winter
before they bloom, so if you plant perennial seed in spring or summer,
do not expect bloom that year-only leaf and root growth. Annuals, of
course, grow and bloom quickly and then die with their first frost.
This means if you plant annuals in mid-summer, even if your weather
cooperates, you won't have much bloom, if any, before frost gets them.
If you're planting a mix of annuals and perennials (like most), fall,
spring or early summer planting will bring annual bloom the first
year, and then heavy perennial bloom plus some reseeded annual bloom
the second and following years.

Another consideration about annuals: If you plant in fall in
cold-winter areas, you may lose the more tender species to late spring
frosts after they germinate. Cosmos is one species that is susceptible
to spring-kill, but favorites like red poppy and cornflower are tough
"half-hardy annuals", and aren't fazed by a few spring frosts.

Choosing a site. How to begin. First, you'll need to choose a place
for your wildflower area. If you're planting an entire field of
several acres, the decision is easy. If you're putting in a smaller
area, there are several things to consider. Wildflowers look best in a
semi-natural spot. Along a wood-line at the back of your lot, for
example, or in a free-form area..."

===============================================================================

Wildflowers
http://www.griffin.peachnet.edu/ga/laurens/ag/hort/hortnews/wildflowers.html

tlspiegel

In my experience most mixes do not grow well by direct sowing,only a
few species will grow this way,get advice from someone who grows
wildflowers in your area.Check out the forums at
www.organicgardening.com for more info.

Hi Ron,

I'm no gardner either, but since you're in Texas, you might want to
have a looksee here: http://www.wildseedfarms.com/  Wildseed farms,
supposedly the largest wildflower farm in the nation, is located just
east of Fredericksburg and has acres and acres of wildflowers.  The
place is breathtaking in spring.  If anyone knows about planting
wildflowers on a large scale in this part of the country, I should
think these folks would.  Also, they're holding daily free fall
planting seminars from 2-4 pm through this weekend, if that might be a
possibility for you.  See here:
http://www.wildseedfarms.com/fall_planting_days.htm

Another place here to get some information would be the Ladybird
Johnson Wildflower Center in Austin.  You might be able to get some
information from them also about planting, especially here in Texas. 
Here's the main site: http://www.wildflower.org/  Btw, if you've never
visited, it's also well worth seeing.  Depending where you're located,
if you need to make a special trip, plan it for spring time and take
in both places.

I'm so happy to hear of this undertaking of yours.  You go - and may
your flowers bloom long and well!  Good luck!

Cheers,
Byrd

pinkfreud---harrowing experience indeed!  I might even slip a disc.
heh  heh  heh
ron

tlspiegel---this is terrific.  I specially enjoy the "Wildflower
Meadow."  Thanks. ron

mister2u---this is great!  Thanks for taking the time.   ron

Howdy, Byrd.  I just requested the catalog from Wildseed Farms.  I'm
actually "temporarily transplanted" to California right now.  But I'll
be visiting my brother in Round Rock (Austin) in 2 weeks, and hope to
see both Wildseed Farms and the Ladybird (kin to you?  heh  heh  heh)
Wildflower Center.  Thanks again, Byrd.  Much appreciated !
ron