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Wildflower planting time (fall) is fast approaching and with it comes a need to understand how to best introduce wildflowers into a landscape. Success—which can mean a low-maintenance, self-propagating stand of color—is predicated on giving the wildflowers the best chance to survive on their own. One important factor that is not often appreciated for its effect on unmaintained or lightly maintained vegetation is "succession." Survival of the Dominant
Succession is the gradual change in the mix of plant species in a given population over years or decades resulting in a climax community—when change stops. Grasslands may eventually become wooded areas under certain conditions, as the dominant species "select out" over the less-suited species. In California, climax communities include chaparral to the south and pine forests in the north.
Complicating succession is the presence of Spanish "pioneer grasses" introduced to California 300 years ago which have become a dominant species.
Paul Albright, Albright Seed Company owner says, "Plants will sort themselves out according to their location based on a lot of factors. The more you understand this transition period and how it affects introduced wildflowers, the more skill you can apply to their maintenance.
"At the level of wildflowers, succession can occur over four or five years. The challenge for landscape contractors is to introduce wildflowers that will fit the area. In a grassland community there may be lupine, poppies and Layia platyglossa (tidytips)—beautiful flowers that you wouldn't mind keeping. The problem arises with weeds that dominate—such as star thistle, tumble weed and annual grasses, and some much uglier plants. If you want to see the flowers, you've got to control these weeds. Doing that is far easier with some understanding of what's going on naturally," Albright said.

Succession and Wildflowers
Wildflowers introduced into an area, unless they are managed, may disappear as the area reverts to the original plant species. The effect of succession on introduced wildflowers will depend on whether the climax community had been established or was in process of establishment.
Historical observations of the site, if available, will give clues to the level of succession. With no maintenance, wildflowers will become less and less prevalent over time until succession eliminates them. If, however, the area's climax population is, or may have been, wildflowers before a major disturbance of the land, then the introduced wildflowers may become part of the climax community. Obvious examples of wildflower climax communities are certain desert areas of southern California where vast carpets of poppies emerge each spring.
Site selection will also have a heavy bearing on how weeds are controlled. The ideal soil would be totally weed-free. Unless the site consists of recently-exposed, deep subsoil that has been properly amended, it is likely there are multiple layers of dormant weed seed ready to germinate if brought to the surface. In such areas, the sheer magnitude of available weed seed needs to be addressed. Proper surface preparation leaves such weed seed undisturbed and therefore, less likely to germinate.

Continue at Weed Control Site Assessment

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