Fall Sowing, But Make It Free
Amanda Green, Master Gardener
Summer’s over, and you’re tired. The garden is a mess; half your flowers succumbed to the drought, and where did all these weeds come from?
You wouldn’t believe it, but it’s time to get those seeds down for spring blooms. So, pull the weeds, scratch up the available soil, and stomp your frustrations out by pushing new seed into the ground for a brighter spring.
We recently did this and are so excited to see next year’s plants starting to form florets. Native plants will commonly sprout in the fall or over winter, so they can build up enough energy to bloom in time with the butterfly migration in March through April.
Photo- Amanda Green
But where do you get these seeds? And when you find them, why are they so expensive? Did you know you can use the plants in your yard or the empty lot down the road to collect your seeds? *Always have permission on private property. You will look for the dried-up flower heads or seed pods, and those are your brand new free seeds! I would much rather spend 20 minutes walking around than $75 online.
Photo taken by Amanda Green.
Another great option is all the free seed libraries in the Midland and Odessa areas. All the public libraries have a free seed section, and there are many more private seed libraries in the area. You can find them at Sibley Nature Center and Watersong Wildspace.
Photo taken by Amanda Green
If you’re having trouble keeping your seeds in place and moist enough to germinate, I do have a few tips and tricks. I loosen the top inch of soil with a rake, then drop the seeds on top. A good stomp ensures they have great contact with the soil. My best advice is to top dress them. After I spread the seeds, I put ¼” of a peat-based potting mix with vermiculite over the seeds, then stomp that down as well. This helps your seeds retain moisture if you aren’t great at remembering to water them daily and makes it harder for birds to find them for an easy snack.
If you have questions, call the AgriLife office in Odessa at 432-498-4071 or in Midland at 432-686-4700. Additional information and our blog, with access to past articles, are available at westtexasgardening.org. Click on "Resources."
