Wildflowers are beautiful, low-maintenance additions to your garden if you want a vibrant summer display. They can also be grown in containers if you’re short on space. Wildflowers rarely need any assistance, but what about fertilizer? In this article, we’ll run through everything you know about the pros and cons of fertilizing wildflowers in your garden.
The Role of Fertilizers in Plant Health, Growth, and Development
Most plants depend on the soil for the majority of their required nutrients. Fertilizers are a way of topping up the nutrient levels in the soil. For most plants, this helps fuel new growth and the development of flowers.
Plants require four main types of nutrients; structural macronutrients, primary macronutrients, secondary macronutrients, and micronutrients. Plants absorb these nutrients through their leaves and roots within the soil.
Structural macronutrients include carbon (C), hydrogen (H), and oxygen (O). Plants use these nutrients to manufacture glucose, which enables the production of cellulose – the basic building block of plant tissues. Plants absorb structural macronutrients from air and water.
Nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) are the primary macronutrients. These nutrients power the growth and development of foliage and flowers while helping plants circulate nutrients. The primary macronutrients primarily come from the soil.
Secondary macronutrients perform various minor functions and include calcium (Ca), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), magnesium (Mg), and sulfur (S).
Types of Fertilizers
Most fertilizers are either synthetic or organic and are usually sold as liquid fertilizers or slow-release granules. All fertilizers have an NPK ratio that details how much nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium each fertilizer contains.
Organic fertilizers are made from natural ingredients, while synthetic fertilizers contain chemicals and salts. However, organic fertilizers must be broken down by organisms in the soil before a plant can absorb the nutrients. Synthetic fertilizers don’t need to be broken down, giving plants instant access to nutrients.
However, synthetic fertilizers can kill beneficial bacteria and pollinating insects. Never use synthetic fertilizers or pesticides if you’re growing wildflowers to attract pollinators. Instead, avoid using fertilizer altogether or use organic fertilizers if necessary.
Do Wildflowers Need Fertilizing?
Even though fertilizer is beneficial for most types of plants, many wildflowers don’t require fertilizing. In fact, fertilizing your wildflowers makes it more difficult for them to grow.
In their natural habitats, most wildflowers prefer loose, nutrient-poor soils. Wildflowers are incredibly adaptable and are often the first plants to recolonize areas cleared by wildfires. Many wildflowers grow on prairies and grasslands with well-draining, gritty, or sandy soils and periods of drought.
Wildflowers will be vulnerable to grasses and weeds if the soil contains too many nutrients. Wildflowers simply can’t compete with the growth rates of grasses and weeds. This means that weeds will quickly take over while wildflowers won’t get enough light or nutrients to grow.
While most wildflowers won’t need fertilizing, some may benefit from a small amount of fertilizer. Perennial wildflowers like coneflowers can benefit from minimal amounts of compost. Add some in the spring, or use organic fertilizers with very low NPK ratios.
How to Prepare the Ground for Wildflowers
Wildflowers are easy to grow as long as the soil is prepared correctly. Weed the soil thoroughly before sowing wildflower seeds. This removes weeds and grasses that could out-compete your wildflowers.
Next, rake the soil until the particles become loose and fine. This provides the ideal conditions for wildflowers because they need loose, well-draining soils. If you have heavy clay soils, mix in lots of sand or grit to improve drainage.
If your soil contains lots of nutrients, you can dig it over to reduce nutrient levels. Dig away the nutrient-rich topsoil and replace it with subsoil. This soil layer contains fewer nutrients than topsoil, making it ideal for wildflowers.
Once the soil is prepared, thinly sow your wildflower seeds before gently treading them into the soil. This provides plenty of contact between the seeds and the soil, making it easier for the seeds to germinate.
Sow wildflower seeds in early spring when the weather starts getting warmer. Ideally, sow after the last frost and wait until average temperatures reach approximately 50ºF (10ºC).
Fertilizing Wildflowers FAQs:
Do Wildflowers Need to be Fertilized?
Wildflowers do not need to be fertilized because they like nutrient-poor soils. In fact, fertilizing wildflowers could enable weeds and grasses to take over and marginalize your wildflowers.
Do Wildflowers Like Compost?
Wildflowers don’t need extra nutrients in most cases. However, adding a small amount of compost in the spring can benefit some wildflowers like coneflowers.
What is the Best Fertilizer for Wildflowers?
No fertilizer is often the best fertilizer for most wildflowers. However, some perennial wildflowers can benefit from a small amount of compost in the spring.
Wrapping Up
Most wildflowers don’t need fertilizing because they require nutrient-poor soils. Too many nutrients mean that weeds and grasses can overpower wildflowers.
Edd is a budding content writer and gardener living in the United Kingdom. He has a bachelor's degree in Creative and Professional Writing and has written for several gardening publications online. He is passionate about nature and sustainability with a focus on gardening and wildlife.
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