Marin IJ Articles

Spread seed love: plant wildflower seed balls

• Anne-Marie Walker

• 

  A pleasing mix of four beautiful California wildflowers. These seeds require no treatment before planting.

  Winter rains bring the promise of spring wildflowers. Rains help germinate seeds and allow roots to grow deep into the soil. This is the time to plant a lovely wildflower border in your garden, wildflower container for your front entry, patio or balcony or the median strip between the street and sidewalk. There is no better way to plant wildflowers than to make and scatter seed balls. Recognizing wildflowers as nature’s wonder, the Audubon Society counsels us to “spread seed love.”
  
  To select the best place to plant, look for an area with full to partial sun. Clear the ground and ensure water can infiltrate and drain from the soil. Weeds are big competitors for water, sunlight, and nutrients, all needed to ensure successful germination of wildflower seeds. If water runs off the ground, your soil is too compacted; remedy by working in 2” of compost into top 2” to 3” of soil with a rake to increase water infiltration and decrease stress on plant roots. If you are planting in a pot, select potting soil with plenty of perlite or lava rock to ensure good drainage. Ideal containers are at least 6 inches deep and 12 inches wide; smaller containers dry out faster and need more water. Most wildflower seeds should germinate in about 14 days. Because some seeds require special germination conditions, check the seed packet before planting. Hiking on Mt. Diablo a few years ago, docents from the California Native Plant Society were surveying what was in bloom. They were so excited to find a rare red poppy in bloom; seeds had likely been dormant for years and germinated due to fire on a section of the mountain. This dormancy is common in some California species, including Ceanothus, Arctostaphylos, and many legume family members, like lupine. However, many California annuals germinate with no special pre-treatment in one to two weeks. Go to www.marinmg.org and click on Cal Native Plants for tips on seed selection. After planting, remember to water consistently to achieve germination and keep watering until the seedlings are 6 to 8 inches tall. After that, short dry periods are better tolerated.
  
  

  

  Wildflower seed ball Dry Mix ingredients. Combine with half a teaspoon of seeds and enough water to form ten seed balls.

  While many nurseries carry wildflower mixes, not all contain local native seeds. Check online for nearby sources; Larner Seeds is a good online source in Marin. The Thomas Payne Foundation and Harmony Farms sell online, too, and seeds can be found occasionally at farmer’s markets. Wildflower seeds are packaged and sold in quantities anywhere from 1/4 ounce to one pound. To plant one square foot, you need about half an ounce; to make ten wildflower seed balls, you need ½ teaspoon of seed. A selection of 4 to 5 different types of seeds produces a more diverse plant habitat and a longer season of wildflower blooms. Casting wildflower seeds works but leaves seeds available to birds and small mammals. That’s the appeal of wildflower seed balls: protect the seeds from predators and enhance germination with a nutrient soil mix. Here’s a simple step-by-step guide:

  
  
  

  

  Mountain Garland is the tallest of Clarkias and, with its arching stem, makes a long-lasting, striking cut flower.

  1. Gather materials: soil, compost, dry red clay powder (available in art or spa supplies), seeds, water, and paper plate.
  2. Mix dry base materials: 3 Tablespoons soil, 1 Tablespoon of compost, 1 Tablespoon of powdered red clay
  3. Add ½ teaspoon of wildflower seeds and mix well with your fingers
  4. Add a little bit of water and work into the mix, striving to form a cookie dough-like mix.
  5. Form ten little balls about the size of a marble and set out to dry on foil until hard as rocks (about 24 hours). Once hard, the balls are ready to scatter when the rains come. Place on soil and keep evenly moist.

  
  Germination takes a couple of weeks, and bloom follows in spring and summer. Native plants are a key component of sustainable, Earth-friendly gardens, and you have helped spread the seed love!

  Photos: Anne-Marie Walker

  

  The author is in a field of coastal California poppies whose petals open wide before they drop. Photo: David Walker