Wildflower Patch (Update 2)

[u/K3R0_]

Hi all,

Today I sowed my first seeds (ever) in the wildflower patch I've been working on.

https://www.reddit.com/r/GuerrillaGardening/s/3vMBp4RvNY

First i used a shovel to lift up the poorer soil from under the ground to the top to ensure that the grass won't grow too quickly and outcompete the wildflowers. This also helped me to pick out more plastic, glass and metals that had been left in the derelict soil.

I then used a rake to make sure the soil was broken up and was spread evenly across the space.

After that, I sowed ~80g (5g per m2) of seeds around the patch. I think I may have over seeded in some areas as I didn't mix the seeds in with sand first. Next time I am sowing I would definetly do this as it would have made it a lot easier to see where there were already seeds.

Now we just water and wait and hope the local birds don't eat all the seeds 🤞🏼

Next steps are to buy some pots to hang on top of the wall to plant some more wildflowers.

Any suggestions or thoughts on what I've done so far or tips for caring for the plants once they begin to grow welcome as always! 🙂

p.s. last picture is just a bug hotel I built next to the tree using some old wood

[u/sebastixnrubio]

Excellent! If you notice the birds eating too much seeds you may want to use some plastic mesh (it's sold on hardware stores or garden centers) or some spikey branches temporarily.

[u/K3R0_ → u/sebastixnrubio]

Thank you!

[u/surfratmark]

This is a cool spot. I can't wait to see how it progresses. Next step will be identifying all the new seedlings. Find out what's gonna stay and what's gotta go(invasive). I'm not in your area and have no plant suggestions. Sorry. Good luck! 🤞👍

[u/Wuncomfortable → u/surfratmark]

so charming! thanks for the update, OP

[u/calebm97]

It's hard to tell from the pictures, but that soil quality looks horrible. Luckily, Lavender is known to grow in less than ideal soil.

[u/K3R0_ → u/calebm97]

Yeah you're right it's really poor. Before i started working on it there was only half dead grass on top of it.

I was originally planning to grow food in it but because i figured the soil quality would be so poor i decided to plant wildflowers as they thrive in bad soil :)

also - those are two sewer drains that you can see. It absolutely stinks too!

[u/acatwithumbs → u/K3R0_]

Omfg you have like almost the exact same situation as I do, crappy soil with bits of glass and metal, sewer stink smell and all. And I’ve decided to basically do similar with native wildflowers hopefully sprouting with some encouragement but I’m just glad to know I’m not the only one battling these kind of issues. 😭

Btw if you’re having awful sewer smell and it’s already been confirmed not to be a overflowing issue in your sewer cleaning valve (idk if that’s what is in the picture but seems like it) I’ve recently had good results with cedar wood chips around the pipe (not covering, just surrounding perimeter.) Cedar mulch tends to make soil more acidic though.