Learn even more about feeding birds in your backyard.
Test Garden Tip: Be wary of invasive non-natives, such as purple loosestrife, Japanese knotweed, crown vetch, and multiflora rose. Some adapt so well that they rampantly spread and bully native species into submission. It’s up to us to restore nature’s balance by removing aggressive interlopers from our gardens and replacing them with bona fide blooms.
- Buy wildflower seed mixes containing species known to grow well in your region. Factor in your soil type, moisture levels, and sunlight patterns.
- Prepare the area for planting by killing the existing turf. The most eco-friendly method involves “solarizing” the soil. Wet the soil thoroughly, then cover with sheets of clear plastic, pulled tight, and staked down. Remove after several weeks. Most experts advise against tilling – it brings up weed seeds lying dormant in the soil. In large areas, use a no-till drill system of seed sowing. For smaller areas, broadcast seeds by hand; mix seeds with a lightweight, inert material, such as sawdust or peat moss, and roll the site with a mechanical roller for good seed contact.
- Water seedlings regularly the first season until they’re established.
Learn more about top plants for butterflies.
Learn more about great grasses.
