Beneficial Insect Wildflower Mix
Our Beneficial Insect Wildflower Mix is a great way to naturally and organically control harmful insect pests around your homestead and specifically the vegetable garden. This specialized blend includes an even mix of annual and perennial flowers that produce beautiful blooms and attract ladybugs, parasitic wasps and more!
Beneficial Insect Wildflower Mix Benefits:
- Great for native bees and honeybees
- Provides excellent habitat for birds and butterflies
- Relatively low maintenance once established
- Blooms may be harvested for cut flowers
- Continuous blooms throughout the warm growing season
- Easily reSeeds and regrows year after year
Beneficial Insect Wildflower Mix Planting/Growing Instructions:
When to Plant
Wildflower seed mixes should be planted in spring after the risk of frost has passed. Seeds will germinate best once soil temps are above 60 degrees. In cooler climates, wildflower mixes may be planted late spring into early summer. In warmer climates, wildflower mixes should be planted in early spring to ensure plants become well-established before extreme heat arrives in the summer months.
How to Plant
Plant wildflowers in an area that receives at least 6 hours of full sun per day. Well-drained soils will perform best and wildflowers should not be planted in areas that tend to hold water after periods of heavy rainfall. Wildflowers should be planted in a tilled or cultivated area to reduce competition with weeds when plants are small.
We suggest preparing the plot several weeks in advance of the intended planting time. Cultivate or till the area every couple weeks to create a relatively weed-free planting zone. If a tiller or mechanical means of cultivation is not available, our Silage Tarps are a great way to kill grass and weeds in the intended planting area.
The average seeding rate for wildflower mixes is 1 lb per 1,000 sq. ft. This means that one would need 1/4 lb for 250 sq. ft. and 1/2 lb for a 500 sq. ft. area. Wildflower Seeds should be scattered evenly along the planting area, but do not need to be covered with soil for adequate germination. We do recommend rolling or packing the area after seeding to improve seed to soil contact for germination. Once planted, the area should be watered frequently to maintain soil moisture until plants are 4-6″ tall.
Plot Maintenance
Wildflower plots may be mowed in fall or spring to increase future reseeding in the area. Once mowed, use a rake to comb through the area. This will help remove excess plant debris and “scuff” the ground to increase the reseeding potential of the plot.
Beneficial Insect Wildflower Mix Includes:
- 16.36% Annual Candytuft (Iberis umbellata) – annual
- 12.25% Siberian Wallflower (Cheiranthus allionii) – perennial
- 12.25% Cilantro (Coriandrum sativum) – annual
- 12.25% Orange California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica) – annual
- 8.17% Dwarf Mixed Cosmos (Cosmos bipinnatus) – annual
- 7.25% Baby Blue-Eyes (Nemophila menziesii) – annual
- 4.08% Alaska Shasta Daisy (Chrysanthemum maximum) – perennial
- 4.08% Gayfeather (Liatris spicata) – perennial
- 2.04% Dill (Anethum graveolens) – annual
- 2.04% Bishop’s Flower (Ammi majus) – annual
- 2.04% Creeping Daisy (Chyrsanthemum paludosum) – perennial
- 2.04% Globe Gilia (Gilia capitata) – annual
- 2.04% Purple Prairie Clover (Dalea purpurea) – perennial
- 1.35% Black-Eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta) – perennial
- 1.02% Basket of Gold (Alyssum saxatile) – perennial
- 1.02% Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) – perennial
- 1.02% Tall White Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia maritima) – annual
- 0.53% Bergamot (Mondarda fistulosa) – perennial
