That is, until New Jersey decided to compare the effectiveness of seeding - detention basins with wildflowers rather than traditional turf grass. This new approach has New Jersey developers and municipalities sitting up and taking notice. Not only does a wildflower meadow produce a diverse habitat for wildlife and an appearance more interesting than that of a manicured golf course, but developers have also discovered that a meadow significantly reduces maintenance costs. In New Jersey, detention basins are the most commonly used stormwater management structures. Excess soluble pesticides and fertilizers can mix with stormwater runoff and be carried into receiving waters.
Excess chemicals can leach into underground aquifers.
The study looked at various wildflower mixtures and application methods and identified environmental factors needed for success. Site preparation was similar, using mulch and tackifier. Soil moisture proved to be the most important success factor. Given the proper conditions, most seed mixtures were effective, suggesting that any native wildflower seed or mixture adapted to a particular region will thrive with the right conditions and proper maintenance. Although weeds were a significant problem, mowing twice during the first year as well as other precautions provided effective controls.