Establishing a small wild��lower meadow from seed ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������ ���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� W23 Follow these 12 steps to establish a small meadow of �������������������������������������� 1. Location, Location, Location Choose a site that is sunny most of the day, has well-drained soil, and is free of weeds. 2. �������������������������������������������������������������������������� Pictures and descriptions of wild��owers that are adapted to your area of Florida are listed at the Florida Wild��ower Seed and Plant Growers Cooperative website, www.FloridaWild��owers.com. Common wild��owers are generally adaptable to a range of gardening conditions and are generally listed as suitable for North, Central or South Florida where they will thrive naturally in nature. Seeds can be purchased in small individual packets or as garden mixtures. 3. �������������������������������������������������������� Sow seed from • mid-September to mid-October in North Florida • mid-October to end of December in Central Florida • November through January in South Florida Planting can be extended to mid-April by using irrigation. Planting during hot months should be avoided because the soil’s surface dries out too quickly. 4. ������������������������������������������������ While some gardeners prefer to chemically eradicate weeds with glyphosate, the Foundation recommends soil solarization as the best means of obtaining a weed-free planting site. This process takes time and patience, and must be done from June to mid-August. First, remove existing turf and weeds with a shovel. Then till the soil 12 to 18 inches deep, breaking up soil clods (the ��ner the soil texture, the better). Remove sticks, roots and other debris brought up by tilling. Rake the surface of the area until smooth, then water until slightly moist but not soggy. Cover with clear plastic that is 3–6 mil thick. (1mil is equal to .001 or 1��1000 inch)/ To prevent wind from lifting the sheet, bury its edges in up to 12 inches of soil. Solarization takes about six weeks. Leave the plastic in place until the seed is sown. 5. ������������������������������������������������ Scratch or ��rm up soil. For sites with bare soil, soil-to-seed contact is critical, so one day before seeding, or just prior to seeding, lightly scratch ��rmer soils with a rake. Sandy soils might have to be made more ��rm by rolling to ensure that seeds do not sink too deep. ������������������������������������������������ ������������������������������������ ������������������������������������������������
19085CD
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