Growing Wild Flowers in Your Home Garden
Native and wild flowers are a treat to the eyes and can be easily spotted in meadows and valleys amidst the mountains. The beauty of these flowers surpasses everything in the surrounding area and you cannot help but wonder how intricate yet amazing God’s creation is…
You can indulge in the sheer pleasure of natural beauty by growing lovely wild flowers in your home garden. The native plants are not very demanding due to their adaptability to the climate and soil so you can grow them easily in your garden. A little care and maintenance will transform your garden into a lively and colorful abode.
If you have a large area to spare for the wild flowers or for that matter even a relatively small space then you can fill it with lovely wild flowers. The striking colors will add to the beauty of your garden and will also attract wildlife in the form of bees, butterflies and chirping birds.
Choose a site where the basic requirements for survival can be fulfilled. Wild flowers need plenty of sun to perform their best so select a spot that receives ample sunlight. Remove existing weeds and unwanted grass from the chosen patch so that they do not compete with your flowers for essential nutrients.
Most of the native flowers can be grown by seeds which are easily available in the market. You can select the ones of your choice for your home garden. There are instructions clearly mentioned on the purchased packets so you would not have worry about when to plant them. Some of the varieties can be planted in spring season and some can even be planted in fall. The zone where you live can also help you in determining whether to plant in spring or fall. Spring planting is generally for zone 1 to 6 and if you are in zone 7 to 11 then you should probably be planting in fall.
Most wild flower seeds germinate easily if they are planted in fall or early winter. However, due to seed dormancy you might have to opt for a pretreatment so that the germination occurs easily. Germination can be improved by the method of scarification or by soaking the seeds in water overnight. Once the seeds have been sown they will germinate naturally. Wild flowers do not need additional fertilizing so it is recommended not to use fertilizers.
The key to thriving plants is to provide sufficient water and keep the flower beds free of weeds and birds that can harm the seedlings. You can find a wide variety of native flowers for your home garden in nurseries across the country.