How To Add Annual Wildflowers To An Established Meadow

Want to see more color in your meadow? Adding annuals is a great way to boost your blooms. Here are some tips and techniques to dig in:

1. How To Add Annuals By Planting A Border
2. How To Add Annuals By Planting Patches
3. The Benefits Of Planting Annuals
4. Four Reasons To Add To Your Meadow

The simplest way to add annuals each spring is to create a border strip. This will add a border of colorful flowers that are easy to see and easy to access for cut flowers. 

1. First, prepare the soil. Remove grass and weeds so that they will not compete with wildflower seedlings. We usually recommend digging by hand or using a rototiller to cultivate a narrow band along the edge of your established meadow. (See the photo above for an example!)
2. Next, sow your wildflower seeds in the bare soil. Before spreading seeds, mix them with clean, dry sand to support even spreading (not soil). Remember to following the recommended coverage rate for your seeds - not too much or too little - for the best results.
3. After sowing, compress seeds into the soil to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. We recommend leaving seeds uncovered so that the sunlight will encourage germination. 
4. Water regularly until seedlings are 4-6 inches tall. After that, their roots will be established and they should be able to thrive on rainfall.
5. For more details, see our complete guide: How To Grow Wildflowers 

Tips:

• When choosing flowers for a border, look for flowers that are the same height or lower than the established meadow mix. That way, you won't block the view to your established meadow!
• Try our neat and tidy Picket Fence Wildflower Seed Mix or lower-growing Wildflower Lawn Mixes for your wildflower border! These colorful wildflower mixes will add a burst of blooms, but won't block your existing meadow.

Another way to boost your established wildflower meadow is by planting fresh seed in sparse patches throughout the meadow. This will bring the flush of new, bright annual blooms to your meadow, among the steady show of established perennial wildflowers.

1. In the spring, go through your meadow and look for spots that have the thinnest returning growth. 
2. Then, prepare the soil in patches. With a small hand tiller, or even a good sharp shovel, remove any existing growth in patches of soil. We recommend preparing patches about 2-3 feet wide. 
3. On the loose, bare earth, sow a handful of wildflower seed. Before spreading seeds, mix them with clean, dry sand to support even spreading (not soil). Remember to following the recommended coverage rate for your seeds - not too much or too little - for the best results.
4. Compress seeds to ensure good seed-to-soil contact.
5. Water regularly until seedlings are 4-6 inches tall.

Tips:

• When choosing flowers for patches, look for your favorite flowers! Be sure to select varieties that are tall enough to be seen among your established meadow. 
• Try our Wildflower Seed Patches for bestselling wildflower seeds in smaller quantities.
• Or, grow your favorite flowers that will rise above the rest, like tall and cheerful Sunflowers, or graceful Cosmos.

• Annuals have a one-year life cycle. They grow, bloom, and produce seed for the next generation in just one growing season. Because they don't have to save any energy reserves for the next year, they are on a mission to produce more flowers so they can set more seed. So, they usually flower all season long! That makes them a great choice for planting each year, to give our yards a boost of bold, cheerful color.
• Because they have a one-year life cycle, you get to try something new each year!
• Many annuals, like Zinnias and Sunflowers, make great cut flowers, and you can pick some wonderful bouquets.
• Annual wildflowers come in a wide range of colors and forms, so you can easily find flowers to complement your established plantings. You're bound to discover some stunning combinations!
• Most of all, because they are fast growers, annual wildflowers are fun! In this uncertain world, it's nice to be assured of some instant rewards. 

1. Enhance a wildflower mix: If you planted a wildflower seed mix with both annuals and perennials, after the first season, you may see fewer colorful annuals in bloom after year one. Plant fresh annual seeds to enhance your meadow with bright blooms. Annuals only live for one year, but they tend to bloom all season. Perennials have a shorter flowering window, but they'll return year after year.
2. Plant more wildflowers for cut flowers: Do you love making bouquets with prolific annual wildflowers like Zinnias, Cosmos, and Sunflowers? Adding more of these long-blooming annuals to your meadowscape each spring is the perfect solution. 
3. Plant more of your favorite flowers: If you planted a wildflower seed mix and discovered some new favorite flowers, you can add even more of them to your meadow! We offer seeds for dozens of individual species.
4. Less lawn, more flowers: Are you ready to replace more of your lawn with beautiful, pollinator-friendly wildflowers? Make room for more blooms!

Annuals vs Perennials - What's The Difference?

  How To Prepare Your Site For Planting Wildflower Seeds

Our Complete Guide To Growing Wildflowers