Flower Gardening : How to Prevent Crabgrass in a Wildflower Garden

To prevent crab grass and other weedy grasses in a wildflower garden, it is important to prepare the soil properly. Remove any existing weeds by hand or by spraying them with a weed killer. Then, spread compost or mulch over the soil and till it in. After preparing the soil, cover the entire flower bed with clear plastic for two to three weeks in hot weather, or for the duration of winter in cold weather. This creates a mini greenhouse effect that kills weed seeds and roots. After removing the plastic, sprinkle your wildflower seeds without disturbing the soil too much. Water them in and wait for your wildflower meadow to appear.

Some wildflower mixes contain grasses as a stabilizer and nurse species until the wildflowers fill in. If you have grasses in your wildflower garden that you don't want, you can use a chemical grass killer. This product specifically targets grasses and is safe to spray over your flower bed. Wait at least a month for the grasses to die before pulling them out.

Yes, it is safe to use chemical weed killers or grass killers in your wildflower garden as long as you follow the instructions and selectively apply the product to the weeds or grasses you want to eliminate. Be cautious when using products like Roundup or Kills All, as they will kill anything they come into contact with.

In hot sunny weather, leave the clear plastic on your flower bed for two to three weeks. In cold drizzly weather, you can leave it on for the entire winter. The goal is to solarize the soil and kill weed seeds and roots.

Yes, wildflowers can be planted in both sun and shade areas. However, the types of flowers you can plant will depend on the lighting conditions. Some wildflowers thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial shade. Make sure to choose wildflower varieties that are suitable for the lighting conditions in your garden.