10 Ideas for Growing a Wildflower Garden Wherever You Live
Wildflowers attract pollinators and add beauty. Here's how to incorporate them.
Planting wildflowers is a great way to add beauty to your garden while attracting wildlife and pollinators. There are plenty of ways to incorporate wildflower garden ideas into any type of yard, no matter how big or small. And you don’t have to convert the grass lawn you worked so hard on to a wildflower garden to reap benefits.
“There has been more interest in native plants and wildflowers the last few years,” says Michael Hagen, curator of New York Botanical Garden’s Native Plant Garden. “There’s a changing aesthetic about what is beautiful. We’re seeing people embrace a more naturalistic garden design, instead of neat rows of flowers.”
It’s at least partially because people are increasingly aware that a garden is a functioning eco-system, says Hagen. For example, certain native plants support certain insects. Milkweed, for instance, is a host plant for Monarch butterflies. (Here are 29 Flowers That Are Sure to Attract Butterflies to Your Yard.)
But there are some misconceptions about wildflower gardens, too.
“Wildflower gardening is not zero maintenance,” says Hagen. “You can’t just sprinkle on a packet of seeds and think you’ve created a wildflower meadow. You still have to interact with the landscape, but in a different way.”
It’s also not practical for most of us to go full-scale wildflower garden. These types of eco-systems, also referred to as meadow gardens, are incredibly complex, says Hagen.
For instance, they require regular mowing in order to maintain diversity. They’re not no-mow situations; rather you change the frequency and timing of your mowing to manage the environment. Otherwise, you may find that nature will balance itself in ways you find unappealing, including harboring noxious weeds.
Let’s not forget that letting your whole yard go wild isn’t always appreciated by your neighbors. It may also be prohibited by your homeowner’s association or community. In many places, there are ordinances requiring regular mowing.
That said, wildflowers can definitely be part of your home garden, regardless of where you live. Here are some of our favorite wildflower garden ideas to add native plants to your existing garden on a small scale.
Have a wildflower garden? Share photos in the comments below!
Start Small
Focus on one area, then allow it to evolve over time.
For example, plant wildflowers in part of an existing planting bed, a small section of yard, or the sidewalk strip between your lawn and the road, says Hagen.
You can also plant a container garden for your deck or patio if you don’t have space in landscape beds.
Pay Attention to Your Sun Exposure
Make sure you choose plants that will work in your garden.
Many wildflowers need full sun, which is at least six hours of direct sunlight per day.
Some wildflowers prefer dappled shade. Read the plant tag or description so you know what each plant requires.
25 Full-Sun Perennials That Thrive in a Garden With Lots of Light
Observe What’s Already Growing
“Wildflowers aren’t interchangeable. You can’t just put any wildflower anywhere,” says Hagen.
Look around at what plants are thriving in your neighborhood, on untended strips of land or at local parks, he suggests.
Local native plant societies or your university coop extension service (find yours here) also can offer guidance on what plants are suited to your region.
Choose Plants That Reseed Themselves
It’s not sustainable to replant new flowers every year, notes Hagen.
Instead, opt for flowers that drop seeds so that they’ll pop up again in your garden next year, such as herbs like cilantro and annuals such as pansies and ammi.
Read more: How to Start an Herb Garden
Mix in Perennials
Plant perennials, which bloom for a few weeks to a few months, to build your wildflower garden.
Most take a few years to take off, so plan accordingly.
Perennials such as bee balm, catmint, calamint, coneflowers, and milkweed offer lots of food for pollinators. Also make sure that perennials you choose are suited to survive winters in your USDA Hardiness zones. (Find your zone here.)
Plant Flowering Bulbs.
Spring-flowering bulbs such as winter aconites, snowdrops, and grape hyacinths come back for many years. Plant them in abundance.
Many types bloom when there’s still snow on the ground, providing nectar for early-season pollinators.
Limit Pesticide Use
Many insects, including lady beetles, are voracious feeders of garden pests, such as aphids, but can be harmed by pesticides.
When you use broad spectrum pesticides, you’re killing everything, and even if you're using them elsewhere, they can drift onto the wildflowers.
If possible, hand-pick pests such as tomato hornworms, in your vegetable garden. A sharp blast from your hose can knock off bugs such as aphids.
Plant Lots of Different Kinds of Flowers.
One way to replicate the feel of a wildflower meadow is to add many different flowers, including native plants.
An eclectic mix of colors and textures also feels more “wild” and offers more visual interest. You can include edibles such as fennel, dill, or parsley, which attract pollinators. Their flowers are surprisingly lovely.
62 Best Types of Flowers (With Pictures!) You Should Have in Your Garden
Plant Flowers with Different Bloom Times.
Aim for a succession of blooms from spring to fall, so that insects just waking up have a source of food, too.
Also, make sure to plant clusters of plants together to attract insect’s attention, rather than planting one here and there.
Delay Fall Cleanup.
Don’t clean up leaf litter, seed heads, or hollow stems too quickly! They help beneficial insects overwinter.
Wait to remove debris until next spring when insects, such as solitary bees, have awakened from their slumbers, says Hagen.
You don’t have to leave the whole yard covered over. Even a small portion (perhaps behind a shed) will provide space for insects.
Arricca Elin SanSone has written about health and lifestyle topics for Prevention, Country Living, Woman's Day, and more. She’s passionate about gardening, baking, reading, and spending time with the people and dogs she loves.
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