Types of Seed

Your seed mix (take up to one packet per family, please) contains the species listed below, from the Ohio Prairie Nursery Quick-Growing Wildflowers Mix (https://www.opnseed.com/products/quick-growing-wildflowers-mix). While most of these are native seeds, there are also two non-native annual flower species to help provide color to your garden the first year.  Cosmos (an annual) may get as tall as 6 ft., but the more permanent species in this mix should range from 1-3 ft. in height.

 

Chamaecrista fasciculata - Partridge Pea

Centaurea cyanus - Cornflower (Introduced)

Cosmos bipinnatus - Cosmos (Introduced)

Gaillardia aristata - Blanket Flower

Coreopsis lanceolata - Lanceleaf Coreopsis

Rudbeckia hirta - Black-eyed Susan

Coreopsis  tinctoria - Plains Coreopsis

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Planting Your Seed

It is recommended to plant your seed in prepared ground in mid to late March—as soon as your soil is workable—or even late fall, if you miss the March deadline.  Spring rains (we hope!) will lessen your work, as new seeds need continually moist soil until they sprout. Make sure the planting area is weed-free and receives at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.  (The packet can cover an area as large as 10 square feet.)  You may also plant the seeds in containers or into an area covered with aged (over 1 year old) mulch or woodchips. 

 

Broadcast your seed over your prepared area. You can also mix the seed with some sand beforehand to get more even distribution.  Flip a rake over and use the smooth end to lightly rake the seed into the soil. Remember that native seeds should be planted no deeper than ¼ inch.  Walk or roll over the area to help get good seed-to-soil contact.

 

Caring for Your Seed

It is usually not necessary to water the seed for a few weeks if you plant in early spring or late fall. If you plant in late spring or summer, water your seed to keep the soil moist until sprouting. After the seeds have sprouted, continue to water for the first growing season, water your about ½ inch of water once a week if it has not rained.

 

Weed lightly as needed, but be careful not to put up your seedlings!  If you don’t know what your seedlings should look like, a good site for identification photos of seedlings is the Prairie Moon Nursery website (www.prairiemoon.com). Some of your plants are annuals and will bloom the first year. Others are perennials and will bloom next year. 

 

Planting native species contributes to a healthier ecosystem, feeding native pollinators and other native wildlife and sequestering carbon in the soil, therefore helping the climate!  Like the rest of creation, they are a gift from Mother Earth. Making room for native plants in your yard shows your love for Mother Earth.