Xtremehorticulture

Be Careful of Wildflower Seed in Primitive Areas

Q. Our family owns an
unimproved lot at about 8500 feet in southern Utah. A combination of heavy
snowfall, strong winds and disease resulted in blow down of dead and live
trees. We are planning to clear the area to reduce the potential of fire and then
seed native plants and wildflowers seeds. I cannot find any appropriate seed
available to do this.

A. There are seed packets
available locally and online labeled as wildflowers. But these are generic
wildflowers and not all native to our area. You are right to be looking for
seed appropriate to your area. Generic types of wildflower seeds should not be
used for seeding near semi-primitive or primitive areas.


Introducing
plants that are not native will result in future problems. Some non-native
plants can invade undeveloped areas and “choke out” native plants. This results in
multiple, successive future problems for other plants and animals relying on
native plants.


Check
out this document online from the Utah Native Plant Society regarding sources
for native seeds.
http://www.unps.org/index.html?PAGES/cohortlist.html. Also download the document from the University of
Nevada titled “Living with Fire” which aims at reducing the fire potential for
homes located.
In the Lake Tahoe area of Northern Nevada but has
information appropriate to your situation. https://www.unce.unr.edu/publications/files/nr/2006/SP0611.pdf

Talk
with your local Forest Ranger and decide which of these seed choices would be
appropriate for your location. If you have trouble downloading these documents,
contact me and I can help you.
When you are ready to seed, seed right into the snow as it is disappearing in the spring. The water and warming soils will help the seeds to germinate.S

2 thoughts on “Be Careful of Wildflower Seed in Primitive Areas”

  1. Bob,
    Tell your So. Utah contact to look at Granite Seed Co's web site in Utah as they have specific Wild flower mixes for that area and can any amount from small to large just takes $$ !
    Happy New Year !
    Rob Grumbles, Kingman

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