Seed & Fertilizer

Planting rates

The amount of seed needed to sow any given area may vary a bit with the type of soil, climate, terrain, etc.  Our recommendations are for fairly flat areas, clear of trees and shrubbery. 

How to sow wildflowers

It is common practice, where accessible, to use a “belly grinder” or drop spreader to spread seeds over an area.  Quite often good results are obtainable by merely scattering the seeds by hand.  We suggest that an inert spreader such as sand or some other inert “carrier” be used to help spread the seed evenly.  Use a product similar in weight and size to the seed mix.  Use a 4:1 ratio, by volume of “carrier” to seed.  If possible, rake in lightly.  Most seeds do not need to be laid very deep and in fact might perform more poorly if planted too deep.  However, raking the seeds will help confuse the birds.

Site preparation

Weed control is very important.  Remove as much undesired vegetation from the area as possible.  Wildflowers can be quite hardy, but natural grasses and weeds are some of nature’s most vigorous plants.

If irrigation is available:

All surface areas must be kept continuously moist.  This is accomplished with frequent, light watering.  Please do not allow newly seeded areas to dry out!  Once the seeds have germinated and the planted area looks established, the plants should be gradually weaned from water.  Water may be applied with less frequency, but for longer periods of time; deep watering will encourage deep root growth.

If no irrigation is available:

During the rainy months of fall, winter and early spring, wildflowers seeds are soaked for a long period of time.  During this time, their natural dormancy is broken.  The seed germinate and immediately begin to send down long taproots.  When the warm days of spring come, they literally burst into bloom!!!

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