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Mixture Formulation |
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Seed Quality |
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ESP regional wildflower mixtures are formulated on the basis
of climactic conditions and regional ecology.
Our goal is to provide a balance of annuals and perennials,
natives and naturalized species for a beautiful, regionally
adapted, long-lasting display.
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Germinations range from 45%-90% and conform to RUSSL minimums
when they are available for a given species.
Purity minimus are generally 97% or greater with most
species at 98% or above and free of prohibited US noxious weed
seed.Germination and purity information is printed on each bag
tag, and copies of the full test results are available upon
request. |
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Our price list includes the per acre planting rate for each
mixture.
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This rate is based on 125 seeds per square foot, which is
optimal for relatively flat sites with average weed
population.
For difficult sites, i.e. slopes where erosion is a problem,
soils with high weed pressure, or sites on which adequate weed
control cannot be maintained, we recommend doubling these
rates. |
For hydroseeding applications, we recommend 150%-200% the
usual planting rate applied in a two step method. The first
application consists of the seed plus 10% of the fiber; this
insures optimal seed/soil contact. The second pass consists of
the balance of the fiber applied over the top of the planting. |
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In climates with a freezing winter, wildflowers can be planted
in the spring after the danger of frost has passed. The latest
spring planting date would be approximately mid to late June,
depending on the date of first frost.
Wildflowers can also be planted in the fall, as long as soil
temperatures are cool enough to prevent early germination.
Generally this would be mid-October. |
Perennials and biennials can be planted in mid- to late summer
as long as there is sufficient time for them to become
established prior to the onset of winter. This is generally
10-12 weeks.
In mild climates, plant wildflowers during the cooler months,
generally October through March. Early to mid-summer plantings
can be made if supplemental irrigation is available. |
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Grasses can be added to wildflower plantings to give a more
meadow-like appearance and to suppress weed growth. We
recommend hard fescue or sheep fescue for Northern, Midwestern
and Western states. In Southern states we recommend tall
fescue. |
We do not recommend using pasture grasses such as bluegrass,
brome, crested wheatgrass, annual ryegrass or orchardgrass
because they are too aggressive and will suppress wildflower
growth.
As an alternative to fine leaf fescue, native
grasses such as big bluestem, blue grama, buffalograss or
side-oats grama can be planted with wildflowers. |
These perennial grasses are relatively slow growing, however
and will take two or more years to become established. The
should be planted for aesthetic or environmental reasons and
not as an erosion control measure since they are slow to
establish
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