I've had a garden full of wildflowers in the first year, but now in year two, I'm seeing no blooms at all. This has happened in a different area where I planted seeds a year apart as well. I'm starting to think some of the seeds might only be annuals, so should I be replanting every year? Also, what should I do with the old growth—should I cut it down, dig it out, or just leave it alone? Just to note, I'm located in zone 7a in southeastern Pennsylvania. Any tips or suggestions?
3 Answers
It sounds like you may be going through the typical second-year struggles. It's normal for some patches to take longer to bloom. I'd suggest cutting back the old growth to about six inches in early spring and tossing down some extra seeds each year to encourage a diverse mix.
The first year can be super colorful, but the second year might feel a bit empty. Make sure to keep planting annuals yearly, and don’t forget to check what perennials you have. They'll perk up eventually! Keep an eye out for them next year!
Most wildflower seed mixes include both annuals and perennials, like cosmos and zinnias, which give you a burst of color in the first year. Perennials usually take a couple of years to start flowering. I replant annuals like cosmos and zinnias each year in my garden. After a couple of years, you should see native species blooming. Plus, improving your plant identification skills can really help you out! Keep it up!
I tend to leave a lot of the growth over winter. For things I know can be cut back, like cosmos, I usually wait until the garden is completely done or just do a little trimming for looks.