How to Make a Wild Flower Garden

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By Danny Thornton
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Make a Wild Flower Garden

Wild Flower Gardens are not as difficult as one might think and can be fun for the family. It is an easy process.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

railroad ties
wild flower seeds
potting soil
black landscaping mesh
tiller
1 x 4 scrap wood
iron rake
hand cultivator

Step 1

Pick the spot that you want to be able to enjoy your garden. Once chosen, it is time to figure the size of the garden that you will have. For wild flowers, I am keen to the idea of a garden that consist of 24' x 10' area, but not if it will overwhelm your yard.
Step 2

Once you have decided the best spot for viewing, it is time to till it up. Most Home Depots or Lowe's will rent a tiller. If not, see if a neighbor has one as it is not a cheap buy. Once the ground is tilled, then you will need to remove as much as the grass as possible.
Step 3

Once the grass is removed, you are going to take your Black landscaping mesh and lay it out with enough overhang that will run under the railroad ties. Do not worry of how much cross over you have as this is going to be the barrier that keeps the grass from growing.
Step 4

Once the fabric is pinned in place, then it is time to lay the rail road ties. Now, hopefully, you have already outlined how you want the bed to go because in moving the railroad ties, it will take 2 strong backs. Carefully place them how you are wanting them to go and make sure that they are as close together as they can be. Set all of them in place. Once in place, use the 1 x 4 scraps and some screws to attach the ties together on the inside. This is keep them from moving apart. On the corners of the outside, I would recommend once you attach them, you then spray paint the 1 x 4 to make it blend.
Step 5

Once the ties are secure, now it is time to add the soil. Dump in as much as you can without packing it down. Get it as close to the top as you can and rake it out smoothly. Using an iron rake works best.
Step 6

Now the fun is here. Once you have chosen the seeds that you want to use, it is time to load them in the hand spreader. Put in as little or as much as you want and if you like, bury some bulbs also. Once you have the seeds spread, take the hand cultivator and go over the bed being careful as to mot walk in it. Once you have turned then entire bed, it is time to water it down.
Step 7

Now, it is time to sit back and watch as the seeds will sprout to give you your own garden of fresh wild flowers.

Comments

onejo2go said

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on 4/29/2009 This sounds excellent! Nice pictures too!

on 4/12/2009 Actually I have used them in flower beds for years and continue to have grand flowers every year. I have never used them in a garden, however, I do actually use treated lumber in my gardens and have never encountered one issue.

bedfords74 said

on 2/23/2009 I have heard that railroad ties are treated with many chemicals that will spread into what you have near them, even so far as killing grass. Should these really be used in gardens whether they have veggies or flowers in them?

james9289 said

on 9/25/2008 hello my name is james and i bought a house with an existing flower garden, it is all overgrown with weeds
i would like to take flower gardening as a hobby
i am all new to this and don't know where to start.
i would appreciate any help i could get. thank you