How to prep a really good poppy bed?

10 years ago

I lost a beloved companion a few weeks ago. And I want to plant in a poppy bed over him.
And I want to know how to prep up the bed for sowing in poppy seeds. When we dug his grave, we took out all the turf first, and that got tossed aside. How we filled in the grave was all deeper dirt. A lot of thick, rich topsoil, with some grey clay mixed in from when we hit the bottom and could dig no deeper.
Once we were done burying him, we covered the grave with an overlapping layer of large plastic bin lids. We have a lot sitting around because we use a lot of bins for container gardening. So we removed all the top layer weed and grass stuff, and it's been under a blackout layer for a wee bit now.
The area right now is roughly 4x4 feet square.
From a couple of poppies elsewhere in my yard and their nodding seed heads, and those came with the house.. I know I need to get this bed ready quick for spreading seed.
Do I need to amend anything to the soil that poppies particularly need? If it helps any, the first three feet deep of the area is well broken up topsoil that is mostly previously peat bog area that has been a wetland meadow area for at least 50 years. And the dirt is super rich and loamy using "the hand squeeze test".
Should I take the time to put up some sort of border around the poppy bed? To help keep out competitive weeds for the first year or few that it takes for a solid poppy bed to establish. I don't care if the poppies get out, I regularly mow around the bed anyway.
To mulch or not to mulch? And if I mulch, what should I use? I regularly have a nice supply of grass that hasn't gone to seed clippings, and last years straw bales that were stored clean and dry overwinter.

Any suggestions for how to get this bed as ready as possible so I can sow in seed soon would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (7)

docmom_gw
10 years ago
It sounds like you have a perfect bed prepped. I would spread the seed now, but watch for weeds popping up. You'need to weed carefully until the poppies take hold.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
are you thinking annual or perennial poppy ...

it might be hard.. in summer.. to get babe seedlings to thrive in august ... but give it a try ....

if need be.. redo it in fall ...

if perennial are what you want.. you might get some started over winter.. look into the winter sowing forum ...

regardless of what seed you throw down ... dont be surprised if you see them popping in spring.. the usual germination time ...

if you are just spreading seed... on the surface.. you really should not mulch over the top of them ... but if you did them in lines ... then you could mulch between ... once germinated.. you could move them around .. and adjust the mulch ...and again.. this would be much easier in spring ...

you might be further ahead.. to plant some annuals you can find at a local nursery.. for this summer.. while you work on your poppy dreams ...

ken
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beesneeds
Original Author
10 years ago
I'm doing annual poppies.. breadseed poppies. It's kind of a joke about his name and coloration that we joked about him being tasty as poppyseed danish.

And it will be one mass block, not in rows or anything. I did make sure I ordered enough seed that I can do three rounds of seeding- once around now once I see the other poppies dropping their seed, again in late fall, and again in the spring if need be. The other poppies are way on the other side of the yard with a tree windbreak in between the distance so I don't have to worry about potential cross pollination. And those two poppies are perennials if that makes a difference.
I was thinking of trying WS with some of the seed too, but I have had terrible luck with getting poppies to WS. I should ask about that over in that forum though.

I was also thinking of putting in a border around the area for now while the poppies are getting established to help keep the weeds out. Actually, I'm planning on doing it around the whole memorial area eventually to enclose two graves- we lost our wee girl and his companion a couple years ago, so now that both of them are together again I want to finish off the area nicely. If it makes any difference, her side is planted in with irises in blue and white.
So I figure while she is coming up and blooming, he will be growing up, and start blooming around when her flowers finish.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
10 years ago
once around now once I see the other poppies dropping their seed

==>> sounds like you have thought it out well .. goodly ... more betterer than others might ...

my final note is just that.. even though you might see them dropping seed now.. that is the seed that usually comes up next spring ...

do keep us posted on the project ... so we can tell the next person who comes along ...

ken
xiangirl zone 4/5 Nebraska
10 years ago
What a wonderful way to express your grief. It will be beautiful for everyone to see and enjoy and you'll know how special it is.

Heidi
kitasei
10 years ago
What was the purpose of the plastic lids?
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beesneeds
Original Author
10 years ago
To keep light from hitting the grave an promoting weed growth, and to keep any predators out of the grave till it's completely settled.