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The house we purchased on 4 acres a few years back, was built on a defunct sod farm. Needless to say, there was zero good dirt left - just hard compacted "clay-dough" as we called it. We amended for beds the first 2 years, but there was a very large portion that was too costly to amend in our style. After a lot of research, we found that a Wildflower Meadow might do the trick for some dazzle since they don't like highly nutritious soil. There's hard work in creating these meadows but oh, so worth it !!
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Bad soil we had! But these magazine quality Wildflower Meadows that "you too can create" from a tube of seeds just don't happen. They take work and lots of it!
What grows in rotten soil with little water? WEEDS! So the first step is to create an environment where weed growth is minimalized. That means making sure there's no "good dirt" around. In our case, that wasn't a problem. But still, we took the tractor and raked the remaining green weeds to reveal only the clay-dough and covered the area with several large tarps to smother any new growth. We left the tarps on for 2 weeks. Then, by hand, we sprinkled sand - yes sand - over the 1/4 acre area where we visualized our meadow. Then came seeding. We chose our seeds carefully and finally decided to go with the native regional mix suggested at http://www.wildseedfarms.com/. Although they are based in the beautiful hill country of Texas, they seemed to have a better mixture for our area than even our local places. They are a definate winner in Garden WatchDog http://davesgarden.com/products/gwd/ and their service was superb.
In retrospect, we were lucky, many gardeners attempting a Wildflower meadow must use Round-up to kill all the grass, so I guess we were lucky!
We seeded the area by hand as the seeds aren't cheap if you're covering a large area. On a very cold February morning, we both took our seed bags and dumped them into more buckets of sand as it's too easy for the winds blow the tiny seeds and also allows for even dispersal. We criss-crossed each other to make certain we had fairly even coverage. The sand was a blessing as it gave us some visual of where the seeds were being dispensed. Then began the nasty work of taking a roller that we filled with water and criss-crossed the same path over and over. Ensuring that your seeds are firmly planted in the sand, yet not buried in the soil is CRITICAL. The roller was heavy but after a few hours, the task was accomplished. It's not something that could be done with any mechanization - just grunt work :)
Now for water - we hoped for rain or sleet and were lucky enough to get it, but my hopes were quickly dashed when a bright sunny day brought out the birds. I freaked out as I watched them swoop down over the tiny planted meadow. DH kept telling me that's why you overseed, don't freak. It just looked awful - this barren plot. I was sure our careful planning was going to come to nothing. Then, one April morning, the patch started looking green and not brown/sandy. There were tiny little plants that appeared everywhere; seemingly all at once!
Silly me, I tried to tiptoe in just once and pull some weeds. My husband Michael, quickly reminded me to stop and just let it happen; that there would be weeds that would co-exist with any Wildflowers that chose make an appearance. The tiny meadow got greener and greener. Every morning I would go and look at leaves - I recognized them! The cornflowers, the rocket larkspurs, the poppies, the cosmos, the verbana, the.......all of them! It was going to happen !! Then the plants all got to be about 5 inches tall - I was so, so excited! But no.....it was time to give it a haircut. This was very hard to do for several reasons. The thought of "pruning" what we'd waited for was torture, but as so many of the seeds were annuals, we knew they would be back. It gives the perennials in the mix more time to become established. You need to mow it by hand on a not wet day or you'll just trample these tiny wildflower seedlings.
Our bluebird boxes were moved quickly so as to await their arrival and give them a real tiny meadow to raise their fledglings.
Little by little as the spring months came, so did the blooms we had long awaited :)
The wildlife came - the foxes cut paths through the cornflowers and the butterflies and bees were happy as could be. 
As the months rolled by, the meadow started coming into it's own and as fall approached, the coneflowers and black-eyed susans started to mingle with the annuals - it was an ever changing display and a true joy to watch. Long about late November, we mowed it down. The very next spring, we mixed annual seeds with the sand in buckets and did our thing again with the roller. The 2nd season of the meadow was about to begin and it was much better than the first.
If you have some space, give this a try - you won't be disappointed!
 | I'm a long time DG'er, super merry wife to the greatest guy on this earth, Michael. By day, we're self employed Mortgage Bankers along with my son Andy. By evenings and weekends we're gardeners trying to get the best out of 3 acres that we can.
Andy and DDIL Michelle gave us the greatest gift of all this past year. We hope to inspire our Grandson to have the same love of gardening we do.
I truly hope you'll enjoy the occasional articles I submit and most importantly have fun cooking from your garden or your local farms.
Happy Gardening and Garden Cooking to all!
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Subject: you answered my question :)
Posted by taynors (from back in St Paris, OH) on February 4, 2008 at 7:29 PM: i have been looking and wondering on wildflowers
We have purchased 45 acres and the front is nine acres of farm feild. In the front by the road i was thinking of wildflower patch. Thanks for your article i m now ever more excited to try this.
thanks
your pics are wonderful
sue ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 5, 2008 at 7:23 AM: Good luck Sue - have fun !!
... Posted by taynors (from back in St Paris, OH) on February 5, 2008 at 10:36 AM: thanks ...
Subject: wildflower meadow
Posted by littlemick (from Maryville, TN) on February 4, 2008 at 1:59 PM:Oh that is so beautiful. I have 4 .5 acres and I want to do that too . Thanks for a great article. I feel inspired to give it a try. ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 2:04 PM: Pick a small spot and give it a go :)
... Posted by victorgardener (from Lower Hudson Valley, NY) on February 4, 2008 at 5:20 PM: Very pretty Dea. Wish I had the room to do it. They plant the parkway median here with wildflowers and it's very nice. ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 5:22 PM: Such a pleasure to watch the flowers change through the seasons!
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Subject: spring sowing
Posted by kmcinnerney (from Bozeman, MT) on February 4, 2008 at 11:26 AM:I had a large rocky and denuded area from an excavation and found that sowing a wildflower mix in a generous quantity of potting soil directly on top of the snow worked exceptionally well here in Montana. I timed it to coincide with my best sense of our "final melt" of spring -- the black potting soil hastened the snow melt and ensured the sprouts were well watered. The entire area had a significant head start on all remaining weeds (only exception -- bindweed, which I plan to attack with selectively applied Roundup this year). A couple lessons: (1) wildflowers spread so don't bother with borders and do expect to find many volunteers in your yard, (2) don't worry about deer resistant mixes -- unless you are doing a tiny patch, they won't be able to keep up, (3) $5 in wildflower seed will produce a garden so lovely it puts all your carefully orchestrated raised beds and borders to shame (sad for me). ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 12:00 PM: So nice to hear of how it's done out your way! Thanks for sharing :)
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Subject: wildflower meadow
Posted by Palatine (from Palatine, IL) on February 4, 2008 at 9:50 AM:One does not EVER have to use an environmentally irresponsible product such as Round Up as you suggest when you write: "many gardeners attempting a Wildflower meadow must use Round-up to kill all the grass, so I guess we were lucky!"
I have planted wildflowers in my backyard for a number of years and I use a pointed shovel to lift up the grass (in a sod-like patch) and sometimes use that sod somewhere else in the garden and sometimes not (If the grass has not gone to seed, it is used in my compost pile). You mention work, and this is definitely the most difficult part; (but) well worth it when considering the alternative (namely Round Up)!
... Posted by Terry (from Murfreesboro, TN) on February 4, 2008 at 10:21 AM: Those of us who are, ahem, "blessed" with persistent, rhizomatous grasses (aka weeds) such as bermudagrass have to use some systemics as well as mechanical excavation. I personally don't think it's possible to eradicate bermudagrass without some chemical help - the root systems are a nightmare. Those in colder climes, where bermudagrass isn't an issue can count your blessings if you've never dealt with bermudagrass; I'd say it's a very big advantage to enduring longer, colder winters than those of us in zones 6 and warmer ;o)
Beautiful photos, Dea! I'm envious of your "wildflower patch!" ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 11:15 AM: Thanks Terry :)
Palatine - we're very blessed indeed to have been able to achieve without RU. Glad to know you don't have to use it either :)
Dea
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Subject: Great article
Posted by doccat5 (from Fredericksburg, VA) on February 4, 2008 at 6:53 AM:Loved this article. I was interested to learn you mowed to thin out the over sow. Whereas you thin with a rake for veggies. I would imagine the flower seedlings are more tender than the veggies. Thanks for the input, we are going to try to do this with a small area in the front of our property. ... Posted by tmbolin (from crossville, TN) on February 4, 2008 at 8:51 AM: Great article Dea! Beautiful but waayy too much work for little ole' me. Yes I am the prototype for the LAZY GARDENER!
Tina ... Posted by Murmur (from Whidbey Island, WA) on February 4, 2008 at 9:25 AM: A few years ago (on my 60th birthday to be exact) I held a little party for myself and invited friends and relatives to help me sow a meadow (the property in back of me had been clear cut - for the alder not for future building). It wasn't my property, but it was so sad and neglected looking with 15 foot high piles of brush, etc., that I was able to ignore the tiny pangs of guilt.
The party was a huge success and the first spring I did indeed see wildflowers blooming - not a lot, but enough to make my heart happy.
Unfortunately, along came the nettles, thistle, blackberries, and other absolutely nasty weeds which pretty much smothered my sweet flowers. I had to give up as it was much too large a project, particularly when it wasn't my property. But every once in awhile, from my deck, I can spot a brave little flower and I know it was well worth it!
You have my utmost admiration for the job you did - enjoy!!!!!
Carole ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 11:12 AM: Thanks everyone!
The mowing down and then over-planting annually is what saves the meadow. Otherwise, we too would have weeds and just a few brave flowers :)
... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 12:17 PM: Dea, thanks for a great article! You've really got me thinking. I've been trying to establish something low-maintenance and pretty around our little fruit trees other than grass, but it keeps getting out of hand... My biggest problem is Johnson Grass, and I've finally (reluctantly) resorted to a grass-specific herbicide that I hope will help this year. I'm always torn about mowing... I can see how it would help, but if I mow down the zinnias, I'll lose so many seeds for the following year... Still, it's not like my approach has been producing stunning results like your meadow! :-) ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 12:18 PM: The dreaded JOHNSON GRASS :( It's so horrible Jill, I feel for ya......
... Posted by critterologist (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 12:48 PM: Yes, it's taken me years to realize that pulling it out doesn't work! It may not spread as tenaciously as bermuda grass... but it's a lot taller... One way or another, though, I intend to win the battle against it! :-) ... Posted by gardenwife (from Newark, OH) on February 4, 2008 at 1:26 PM: This article gives me hope. I will do something on a much smaller scale, just along the side of our house. I'm wondering about a couple of things: When was it you cleared the area of sod and tarped it, and how deep a layer of sand did you apply at that time? ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 1:34 PM: Not deep at all - not even full coverage - just enough to show us boundaries and such. Remember, wildflowers don't like good soil :)
... Posted by cathy4 (from St. Louis County, MO) on February 4, 2008 at 2:15 PM: Dea, my son-in-law asked me just this weekend if I thought the bare ground between his and the neighbors homes could be sown with wildflowers. The neighbor has agreed to the idea. I'm going to send him a link to this article so he can learn how to do this. Very timely and well written information. Thanks! ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 4, 2008 at 2:19 PM: Good luck to them !
... Posted by gardenwife (from Newark, OH) on February 4, 2008 at 5:58 PM: That's what I'm figuring, Cathy. There's just enough sun, I think.
That and I have a raised bed in back that I successfully grew cosmos in. I started them late so didn't get to enjoy too many blooms, but they didn't get leggy and fall over, so there must have been enough sun in that spot. ... Posted by darius (from Appalachian Mtns, VA) on February 4, 2008 at 6:45 PM: Quite an inspiration! The photos you show are wonderful enough to imagine an entire field. :)
I was hoping to do that with the strip between the road and my creek... but the creek was dredged last year and all that good dirt piled up on the strip. Plus, it's not flat enough to even walk on, much use a roller to firm down seeds. ... Posted by Islandshari (from Kwajalein
(Marshall Islands)) on February 4, 2008 at 7:38 PM: Dea, what a beautiful article! Filled with great info, and inspiration...the wild flowers and the wildlife that flourishes with them must love you!
Yokwe,
Shari ... Posted by stonecroppe (from Tiverton, RI) on February 4, 2008 at 8:41 PM: Dea, wonderful article, well written, it has inspired us, we have a 72 acre farm with a 1/4 cleared area as you approach the house. Thanks to you, we now know what we are going to attempt to do there. ... Posted by angele (from Elephant Butte, NM) on February 4, 2008 at 8:54 PM: Fantastic article! Thanks for sharing it! I'd love to follow your instructions for at least part of my rural/suburban lot. ... Posted by Lindawalkabout (from Holden, MO) on February 4, 2008 at 10:35 PM: Dea, I sure enjoyed your article. And much on my dreams to have a wildflower garden as well. Great picture
We have a big bare spot, maybe an acre then it cuts off and the rest is fields and woods. This bare spot doesn't support weeds and not much of anything, really bare, with lots of sandstone. Would it still be good to sow wildflowers using your method? ... Posted by Dea (from Frederick, MD) on February 5, 2008 at 7:22 AM: Doesn't support weeds....that might be a concern. Personally, I'd give it a try. There are some mixes that do particularly well in gravel/stoney type areas.
Let me look for some for you.
So glad everyone enjoyed the article :)
... Posted by Lindawalkabout (from Holden, MO) on February 5, 2008 at 9:41 AM: Thank you Dea, its got very few weeds, enough that I could hand pull if need be, so it does grow something, lol
I have to turn off PC , rough storm, I'll be back on when its over . thanks for any info . and that Wildflower Farm site is great, lots of info in there. I will be ordering from them My thoughts are doing small patches here and there , maybe have to amend the soil , some not and see what happens. But I sure would like to get that bare spot covered with beautiful wildflowers and maybe put in some sort of water garden in there as well. Thanks again for all the inspiration : ) ...
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