So I bought some wildflower mixture, and they recommend to thin/blend with sand so you can see where you broadcast and go see it easier. So I took one step further and added clover as well.
I have 2 wildflower mixes, 10gs of each, I know it’s probably not enough to get a dense lawn, but that’s also why I thinned it clover that I’ve already started turning the lawn over to.
So I took about 1/2 of one of wildflower packets and mixed it with 1 scoop of clover seed and 5 scoops of play sand. Gonna broadcast my entire front lawn, ther grass isn’t too tall yet, although I should mow to the lowest setting first.
Anyways follow along for updates on this adventure!
I have a glass container filled with a wildflower mix from our garden in my backpack at all times. When I’m on my bike at a red light for example, I just throw a handful on to any public lawn patches around me.
Thank you for guerilla gardening in what sounds like a responsible way.
I can’t condone people that plant invasive species, but hopefully your wildflower mix doesn’t include any.
More complicated than just avoiding non-native or invasive species. A species might naturally occur in the region but be inappropriate for the habitat. An area might support a rare variant of a species that could be threatened by introducing the common variant. Need to research what species are appropriate before sowing seeds.
Yes. And in the end, some poor tax paid city employee is gonna rip it out in most cases as well.
Absolutely important to dig into it a bit, which is why I contacted the local environmental group about it, who happily provided a list of suitable plants I used as a reference point.
It’s also mostly places like those little traffic islands or empty estates. I try to avoid doing it around the canals in my city since they actually are a differing habitat.
Also I only do it on public property or non developed lots, if you want to have a golf course lawn in your garden suit yourself, I will not touch it, but I will silently judge you ;)
But your point is very valid, do some research, reach out to environmental groups and educate yourself on the differing habitats in your area.
I’m looking forward to pictures of the wildflowers. Good luck!
Thank you! They recommend a tilled bed, like give you 3 different ways to prep depending on weeks in advance -.-
No reason why the grass can’t shade some of these to start going while the thatch hides the seeds.
I’m fairly confident, I overseeded my backyard with clover and grass last year and the clover took fantastically. Even if the the clover just takes, it won’t be a loss.
I’m working on letting moss take over the shady part of my yard, to go with the wildflowers I spread in the side yard years ago. My daughter really like them, my sinuses not so much.
If got some mossy parts, but I’ve tried to make it better. This year I’m just gonna remove the fence panels in the front yard which should prevent the rest of the front yard swamp patch. Grass wouldn’t even grow there hardly.
Dealing with water is part of why I’m letting the moss take over.
Clover can handle a lot of water before it gets annoyed. And a fair bit of drought.
Also fixes nitrogen. Idk if shady spots with moss need it, but lawns generally need nitrogen.
I’m about to plant mine. They probably need the cold to sprout this year but next year you will be set. I have mine in the fridge mixed with wet sand and they are just starting to sprout
Interesting.
Some of my seeds recommend something along those lines, but for wildflower, it’s after last frost. So still risky, but I assume hardiness zone plays majorly into the pre coldening for “wildflowers”.
I dislike how they don’t include all the flowers in the mix.
I don’t really understand the reason for the sand. I thought having sand where you want plants was mostly a bad thing?
It’s a visual aid so you can see where you’ve already spread seed and a bulking material so the seeds are evenly distributed over a large area. It doesn’t have to be sand, it’s usually just some sort of lawn friendly material.
Sand is a normal portion of soil.
Edit, sorry misunderstood the last part of your comment.
No worries, I could have phrased it better.
Sand is a wonderful filler depending on existing soil material. In high clay areas, you would want sand for drainage.
Don’t make my mistakes. Coarse sand for drainage. Fine or play sand in clay makes basically concrete.
Our clay is already basically that…
That does make sense actually. Big issue with concrete is you can’t use a lot of sands because they are smooth, you want the rocky abrasive kind so it binds together. So while we have deserts of sand, our construction sand is finite.
Also, don’t use jointing sand, it has a binding agent in it.
Add calcium to fix this
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