Description
Perennial Wildflower Sod is ALIVE. It ís densely packed, Wildflower plants are pre-grown in a "SOD" format. They come with green vegetation, a well established root system, and possibly some open blooms.

The bloom height for the Mid-West mix is 6" to 42" and for the Low-Grow mix is 6" to 18".

Uses
Possible uses for Perennial Wildflower Sod are: When an IMMEDIATE coverage of Wildflower plants is desired. Where other annual or perennial plants have been or will be used. Or, where erosion/slopes are a problem.

Climate
Perennial Wildflower Sod performs well in the Mid-West. Follow proper maintenance procedures to help balance changes in the product that occur during the year.

Ground Preparation
Preparing the ground for Perennial Wildflower Sod is as easy as the preparation for any other perennials. Start by using Round Up to rid the area of weeds. Next, till the soil to a depth of 3-4 inches. Remove all clumps, rocks, etc. Add a soil conditioner if needed. Spread a complete granular fertilizer on the soil. Set up irrigation.

Three different planting methods can be used.

Solid
Place the pieces close together just like turf sod.

Checkerboard
Cut into 6" or 9.5" squares & place the pieces alternately.(5sq. of sod covers 10 sq. ft. of area)

Plugs
Cut into 3' or 6' squares & space the pieces evenly so that 5 sq. ft. of sod covers 15 sq. ft. of area.

First, place sod firmly into place and cover all exposed roots with soil or mulch. Breaking the roots is okay as it stimulates root growth. The burlap fabric can be removed. If the soil is hot, cool it down with light irrigation before installation.

Water the Perennial Wildflower Sod evenly upon installation making sure to soak through to the soil beneath the sod. For the next 2-4 weeks, check sod daily to determine if additional water is needed. After 2-4 weeks begin to check for rooting of the sod. once sod is securely attached, reduce water to one inch per week.

Perennial Wildflower Sod is a mixture of perennial flowers so it requires regular maintenance and evaluation.

Maintain 1" of water per week throughout the growing season. Manual watering can produce satisfactory results, however, the use of an irrigation system with timers and moisture sensors is recommended for best results.

Fertilize in spring and early fall with a complete fertilizer recommended for flowers. Apply at the manufactures suggestion.

The control of noxious weeds and grasses is essential. Pull out weeds as they appear. Don't allow weeds or grasses to become established. The use of mulch at the time of planting will help reduce weeds. Some pre-emergent or post emergent weed control products may be used. Ask your dealer for more information.

During the season you should trim spent flower heads and foliage as they die back. This not only improves the look, but will rejuvenate the foliage and may force another flowering. In Fall, mow to a height of 4-6 inches. The vegetation can be left in place as mulch for the Winter.

Wildflower species naturally compete with each other. This competition is affected by climate, soil conditions and maintenance. A good maintenance program will help keep plant diversity in the mix. If a species begins to dominate, cut back those plants and remove their seed heads. Plant division can also be used to fight dominance.

It is recommended that the planting be evaluated at least once per month during the growing season. Extreme changes in the weather can cause dominance by one or more species. Early action will help rebalance the mix and keep a diverse representation of species.

Perennial Wildflower Sod is a blend of many beautiful and unique flowers. Some of the flowers bloom profusely in the early years while others may not appear for a couple of years, or in small numbers.

The flowers that will persist in your planting is dependent on many things such as planting location, weather conditions and maintenance. After a few years, you may want to plug pieces of new sod into an existing planting to replenish some of the species.