Milkweed, also known as Asclepias, is one of the best native wildflowers for attracting pollinators to the garden and is the sole host plant for the Monarch butterfly to breed. Learn how easy it is to plant Milkweed seeds in the fall for years of effortless blooms that attract a parade of pollinator… Read More →
One of the best things about wildflowers is how easy they are to grow!
Plan
Check for your last frost date and plant after this has passed.
Choose a spot on your property that gets 6 or more hours of direct sun a day (unless you are planting our Partial Shade Mixture).
Prepare your soil be clearing the area of all existing growth. Simply dig up everything that is growing, turn the soil and rake the area flat. If this is an area that has never before been gardened, you may need to till the area up to remove growth.
Plant
Mix the seeds with sand for better visibilty and scatter the seeds directly on top of the soil. If you are sowing a larger area, we recommend using a seed spreader; if not, you can sow by hand.
We recommend lightly compressing the seeds into the soil, making sure not to bury them. You can either walk on them, use a board, or if you are sowing a larger area, rent a seed roller.
Commercial Applications:
There are two methods of seeding that a lot of my commercial customers use. The first is split/slice seeding. This is a cost effective method way of planting wildflowers when doing larger areas. Just be aware that some wildflower seeds are small and that this method may end up burying some varieties too deep. The second, and my favorite commercial application, is hydro seeding. This too saves time and money and allows you to seed large areas in a short amount of time. This application is “spraying” seed on the surface of a prepared area usually including syrupy mulch that allows for even distribution, helps hold the seed in place (great for seeding slopes!) and holds moisture as well that also speeds up germination of the seed.
Grow
Water so that the soil is moist, not soaking wet, until the seedlings are about 4-6" tall. After that, the seedlings will survive on natural rains. If you are experiencing very dry weather, we recommend watering occasionally.
Learn from the Seed Man! In this two-part video, I give complete instructions on how to install your own wildflower meadow. I gives tips on choosing the right seed, preparing the land, sowing the seed and after care!
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