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De Bruyn Seed Store 101 E. Washington Zeeland, MI 49464 616-772-2316
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WILDFLOWER MIXTURES Wildflowers are species of flowers that have proven themselves over the years to be hardy, self-reproducing varieties that survive on little or no care. Once established, all that is needed is sun and water, and then nature does the rest. So, whether you're renovating an old pasture, naturalizing commercial sites, or just transforming an unused section of the lawn, wildflowers are a beautiful, low cost alternative to turf grass. De Bruyn Seed Store has three varieties to choose from, the standard Midwest Wildflower Mixture, Wildflowers for Shade and Annual Wildflower Mixture. All the mixtures are specifically designed to withstand the changeable Michigan weather, giving beautiful results with a minimum of work. All the mixtures are 100% seed, containing no fillers or grasses. Midwestern Wildflower Mix Wildflowers for Shade Mix Annual Wildflower Mix All Perennial Wildflower Mixture Hints on Seeding
As with any type of seeding, soil preparation is important. All existing vegetation should be killed either by physical removal or the use of a broad spectrum herbicide. Deep tilling only encourages germination of weed seeds already present in the soil. Rake the soil to form grooves for good seed to soil contact. Since wildflower seeds are so small, it is advised to make a 1:4 mixture of seed to vermiculite to "bulk it up" and make it easier to spread. After seeding, rake over the seed, taking care not to cover the seed more than 1/4". Generally, early spring is the best time to plant, to use the seasonal rains to help germination. Since the annual flowers in the mixtures need time to mature and set seed for next year, do not plant later than 8 to 10 weeks before the first frost. "Frost seeding" can also be used. Prepare the seedbed in the late fall, then wait until the ground begins to freeze. Seeding may be done then, or you can wait until spring, when the frost is just coming out of the ground. Frost seeding insures that there is adequate moisture for the seed from snowfall, and makes good seed to soil contact through the cracking and heaving of the ground in the spring. After seeding, make sure the area gets enough moisture either through natural rainfall or manual watering. Mulching with clean straw or peat moss will help hold soil moisture. If soil is extremely sterile, a light application of 5-10-5 fertilizer may be beneficial. (Too much will only encourage native weed growth.) Once established, little care is needed. During prolonged dry periods, light watering may be needed. In late fall, after the annuals have gone to seed and the perennials have become dormant, an annual mowing to a height of 4" to 6" is recommended. This neatens the winter appearance and helps drop seed heads where you want them. On large areas, hard fescue can be added to our mixes to help extend it. Do not add ryegrasses or bluegrasses to these mixes, as they are too competitive. Flower Prices Mail or Fax Order Form Flowers E-mail Order Form |
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DE BRUYN SEED STORE 101 EAST WASHINGTON ZEELAND, MICHIGAN 49464 616-772-2316 FAX 616-772-0011 debruynseed@att.net |
