Some parts of land management focus in on the smallest of wildlife that can have a big impact on your property’s biodiversity.
An easy way to encourage a host of bees, butterflies, moths, beetles and other native pollinator species that are crucial to ecosystem health to visit your property is to establish a wildflower patch.
Many of these species have faced decline due to habitat loss and fragmentation and the proliferation of monoculture turfgrass lawns.
Although less of an issue in properties with regular prescribed fire and a dedicated management plan focused on wildlife, a pollinator-friendly flower plot can provide a burst of color throughout the year, support stronger biodiversity and create habitat for insects.
Much of the specific information here will focus on wildflower plots in North Florida and South Georgia. Different regions may require different seeds or different techniques, but the work to establish a wildflower plot is often similar.
Choosing and preparing the site
There may already be wildflowers below the soil waiting to sprout or you may want to convert a grassy or old agricultural field into a haven for butterflies and bees.
In general, the following techniques and suggestions are for wildflower areas of a half-acre or more.
Leslie Elmore, Tall Timbers’ Conservation Coordinator, suggested thinning dense upland pines or hardwoods to encourage long-dormant plants in the seed bank to sprout once they are exposed to more sunlight.
Elmore said there are many wildflower seeds that can remain dormant in the soil for 80 to 100 years and opening up the tree canopy can be just the thing to spur their growth.
“What do you have that you can maximize now? Forest lands have a lot of great pollinator potential” she said. “Even modest changes, such as opening up closed-canopy forest to 60-80%, will allow the understory to flourish and provide fuels to reintroduce prescribed fire.
Another great option is converting an old agricultural field or grassy field. In those spots, competition with other plants, especially sod-forming and nut grasses and weeds, is an issue that must be addressed. Where row cropping has been in practice for many years or decades, it is a good idea to check for and break up the compaction layer.
Select a site during the growing season so it is easy to see what plants may need to be controlled and what level of competition your seeds may face.
Weed competition will need to be addressed, especially in nutrient-rich soils. If possible, avoid sites with heavy weed infestations.
A half-acre patch of turf grass just a few days after treatment with glyphosate.
To minimize competition, site preparation should focus on creating a weed-free seedbed. In certain areas in the Southeast where Bahia grass is prevalent, the use of herbicides may be necessary.
A 5% solution of glyphosate sprayed several months in advance can knock back grasses and allow for repeated applications if any resprout occurs. It is important to use a non-residual herbicide that could inhibit flower seed germination.
An area sprayed with glyphosate is typically ready to plant after two or three weeks. Some herbicides take longer to leach from the soil. Be sure to read the label.
After weeds and grasses have died off, a light disking of the area will increase the amount of bare soil and fluff it for seeding.
Be sure to disk as shallow as possible to avoid spurring latent seeds to grow. You want a footprint to leave a ¼ inch impression on a well-prepared seedbed.
Seeding methods
In Florida and Georgia, spreading wildflower seeds in the fall, between November and January, has shown to give the best results when plants sprout the following spring and summer.
Many wildflower seeds have developed adaptations that require exposure to cold temperatures and wet conditions, called scarification, to germinate. Planting in fall also reduces competition with weeds that are often in dormancy.
The seeding rates will vary by region, but Elmore suggested using seed mixes that include about half wildflower seeds and half native grass seeds. The grass will provide some level of weed control and help hold the soil together while the wildflowers grow. There may be other seed mix requirements if you’re tapping into cost-share funding sources.
There are two ways to seed a wildflower plot, by broadcast or with a native seed drill.
Broadcast seeding is the most approachable and can be done by hand or with a mechanical seeder operated by hand, on an ATV or a tractor – depending on the size of your plot.
Smaller seed mixes may require an inert carrier material such as sawdust, coarse sand, peat moss, rice hulls or vermiculite to ensure an even distribution.
After seeding, it is important to make sure there is adequate soil contact by running a cultipacker or drag over the site. This will also help to prevent seed loss due to wind or predation.
Native seed drills can be set to plant seed at an exact depth and with more uniform spacing and help to prevent dormant weed and grass seeds from being disturbed and sprouting. However, native seed drills are expensive, may not be readily available and may not be the best choice for smaller plots.
If possible, water freshly planted seeds about ¼ inch for two weeks. Do not apply fertilizer as it will spur weeds to grow.
Caring for your wildflower plot
Controlling weedy competition is essential while the planting establishes. Sometimes spot-spraying may be necessary; however, mowing can be an effective means to control the weeds while your wildflowers grow.
Set your mower height well above the wildflower seedlings to control weeds, mow 2-3 times during the summer, and stop mowing once they exceed mower height.
Additionally, prescribed fire can help your wildflower patch thrive by reducing competition and providing bare ground for new seeds to settle.Elmore suggested breaking a wildflower plot up into different parcels and burning them in different years then alternating seasons to help perpetuate your hard work.
Sourcing your seeds and getting help
There are several sources of wildflower seeds, however it is important to obtain seeds that match your ecoregion.
Seed sourcing can also affect success.
Although not necessary, seeds derived from wildflowers near your area have a better chance of growth and survival.
Seed providers can be found through xerces.org, the National Resources Conservation Service or your local cooperative extension agent, which can also assist with establishing your wildflower plot.
