Wildflowers are great, but not all wild flowers are great for every location. While planting wildflowers can help pollinators and improve ecosystem health, that’s only if they are the correct native species. To the surprise of no one, companies that make and sell wild flower mixes don’t often care that they’re mixing native and non-native plants. Because of this gardeners with the best of intentions can end up planting invasive flowers in yards that end up doing more harm than good.
The Root of the Problem: Wildflowers for a Quick Buck
Companies that sell wild flower mixes aren’t just selling them to help the environment, they’re doing it to make money. Like any endeavor where money is involved some people will cut corners or actively do bad things to make a few extra dollars. In many cases where this is a problem it’s because of careless oversight. For example a company that makes a perfectly fine wildflower mix for one region expands their business and they start selling to a region where that mix would not be suitable for planting.
Other cases where the problem is sinister are from seed factories that not only mix whatever seeds they can, they cut their flower mixes with seeds that are cheap to produce and often awfully invasive. This lets them sell bulk seeds cheaply and helps their marketing as well. In total, this approach prays on the ill informed and is very short sighted.
How To Avoid Bad Wildflower Mixes
The good news here is that avoiding bad wildflower mixes is easy to do. There are few things to look for when buying wildflowers for your yard or garden.
Rules for Buying Wildflowers:
- Only buy from trusted seed vendors. If you don’t know the company and you can’t find reviews, pass on those seeds.
- Only buy wildflower mixes that list the flowers in them.
- Only buy mixes with native flowers for your region. If you don’t know what is and is not native, look things up before making your purchase.
- If you’re still unsure about your wildflower mix grow a test planter indoors first. If you can identify what grows, you’re in the clear!
- Buy individual wild flowers when possible and make your own mixes. This might cost a bit more, but it’s much safer.
With a little bit of care and patience you can help stop the spread of invasive species! Following these simple rules is nearly fool proof, though sometimes even still mistakes can happen. Remember, knowledge is the best tool you have in the garden, so arm yourself with good information before you plant!
Know The Laws on Wildflowers
In some places planting wildflowers is illegal, not because the places don’t want wildflower, but because the risk of introducing invasive species is so high. If you plant an invasive species in your yard, in some case you can be held accountable and may face fines or other penalties. While this rarely comes up, it’s important to be on the safe side of the law when it comes to planting.
Simple Steps for a Better Ecosystem
While it may not be much keeping an eye our for your local ecosystem starts with knowing what you should and should not be planting. Wildflowers can easily be a huge misstep when handled improperly, so follow the simple rules and make sure you’re doing your part to protect the environment. Happy Homesteading!