Grower’s guide: How to plant and care for a wildflower garden in the Lowcountry

Story by Sheila Paz

Planting a wildflower garden is a great way to add beauty and diversity to your outdoor space, while also supporting local ecosystems and pollinators. Here are some steps to help you get started:

1. Choose a location: Wildflowers need plenty of sunlight, so choose a location that gets at least six hours of direct sunlight each day. You’ll also want to choose an area with well-draining soil, as wildflowers don’t like to be waterlogged.

2. Prepare the soil: Once you’ve chosen your location, you’ll need to prepare the soil. Remove any existing vegetation and weeds, and loosen the soil to a depth of about 6 inches. You also can add compost or other organic matter to improve soil fertility.

3. Choose your wildflowers: There are many different varieties of wildflowers to choose from. For best results select flowers that are native to the Lowcountry. You can buy seeds or plants from a nursery or online supplier.

4. Plant your wildflowers: Follow the instructions on the seed packet or plant tag to determine the proper planting depth and spacing for your chosen wildflowers. Be sure to water the seeds or plants well after planting.

5. Maintain your wildflower garden: Once your wildflowers have started to grow, you’ll want to keep the area free of weeds and water them regularly. You also may want to consider adding a layer of mulch to help retain moisture and prevent weeds from growing.

6. Enjoy your wildflower garden: As your wildflowers grow and bloom, you’ll be treated to a beautiful display of colors and textures. You’ll also be providing important habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies and other pollinators.

Gardening tips 

Caring for a wildflower garden involves some basic maintenance to ensure your wildflowers thrive and continue to bloom. Here are some tips to help you care for your wildflowers:

Watering: While wildflowers are generally low-maintenance, they still require regular watering, especially during hot and dry weather. Water your wildflowers deeply, but not too frequently, as too much water can lead to root rot.

Fertilizing: Wildflowers don’t typically require much fertilization, as they prefer nutrient-poor soil. However, you can add a slow-release, low-nitrogen fertilizer at the beginning of the growing season to help promote healthy growth.

Deadheading: Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, encourages new growth and can prolong the blooming season. Simply snip off the dead flower heads with a pair of scissors or pruning shears.

Weeding: It’s important to keep weeds under control in your wildflower garden, as they can compete with your wildflowers for water and nutrients. Hand-pull weeds, or use a hoe or cultivator to remove them.

Mulching: Applying a layer of mulch around your wildflowers can help retain moisture in the soil and suppress weed growth. Use a natural mulch, such as straw or leaves, and avoid piling it up against the stems of your plants.

Pruning: While wildflowers generally don’t require much pruning, you can trim back any overly long or leggy stems to encourage bushier growth.

Pollinator-friendly flowers 

Did you know that three-fourths of the world’s flowering plants depend on pollinators, such as bees, butterflies and hummingbirds to reproduce? Here is a list of native flowers to plant in your garden to help attract these pollinators and support the ecosystem.