It's time to think about planting your wildflower seeds, if you want things like Bluebonnets and Indian Paintbrushes in your landscape next spring. In fact, wildflowers are becoming an increasingly popular landscape alternative by adding color and natural beauty to any area. Unlike the typical European-style formal gardens of straight lines, square corners and manicured edges, wildflower gardens have the appeal of low maintenance by requiring little water and reduced mowing frequency once established.

There is a common misconception today that wildflowers are easily grown from seed. While I wouldn’t term them “difficult” by definition, I would say that it does require a bit of detailed knowledge of conditions that favor their establishment and growth. So, with that said, here’s a great weblink to an Aggie Horticulture webpage that essentially goes through all the FAQs one could ask and/ore endure.

Oh, by the way, Texas is way more than just bluebonnets, showy primrose (you probably call buttercups – and that ain’t right!) If you don’t believe me, please link to this great poster below at a JustTexas website and see for yourself. Or to the website that gives easy identification of common wildflowers as well. There too, you will learn just how many you’ve mis-identified and/or misnamed all these years.

While some species, are as easy to grow as casting them onto the ground, most require specific soil and temperature conditions, a certain degree of ongoing personal attention and most of all, patience. Unlike ornamental flower or vegetable seeds, most of the wildflower seeds have not been genetically altered to achieve specific traits such as rapid germination, height, color or adaptation to specific soil types or climates.

As wildflower enthusiasts, we want to produce in two to three years a display of color to match that which has taken Mother Nature hundreds of years to achieve. Nature plays an important role in the success or failure of all wildflower plantings. Adverse weather conditions such as drought, hail, or excessive rainfall-obviously beyond human control-may seriously affect the success of your wildflowers. Soil or drainage problems in the southern and western portions of the United States, USDA Zones 7 through 11, the autumn months of September through December are most favorable to plant your wildflowers.

In this part of the state, October/November is considered the optimum time. Many of the species will quickly germinate in order to allow the seedling enough time to establish a healthy root system before going dormant in the winter. Some of the seeds may not germinate if the ground temperature is below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. These seeds will remain dormant within the soil until early spring and will begin to emerge under more favorable conditions Before I send you to the best website, ever, for wildflowers in Texas, keep in mind the two main keys to success when sowing wildflowers. The seeds need to be in contact with soil, and you've got to keep a handle on weed control. In the meantime, here's the link to Wildseed Farms based in Fredricksburg, Texas. You can order seeds and get all your questions answered about sowing wildflower seeds.

• www.wildseedfarms.com

The new KTRH streaming widget lets you take NewsRadio 740 with you anywhere you go!
Place it on your blog, Facebook, Myspace and other social network sites by simply clicking the "Get & Share" button!
CLICK HERE TO GET YOURS!