Can I Throw Down Wildflower Seeds? | Arbor Hills Landscaping (2024)

FAQs

Can I just throw wildflower seeds around? ›

Make certain to remove all the roots of old grass and weeds or they'll grow back with enthusiasm. We don't recommend just throwing the seed out in the field or into the grass; anyone who's tried scattering seed without removing other plants has been sorely disappointed when their wildflowers don't come up.

Wildflowers are a great idea for steep or sloped areas of your landscape - especially if the slope makes mowing difficult or impossible! Every year, we get questions from all over the country on this subject: "Can we plant on a slope?" "Will our seed wash away?" "What can we do to prevent erosion?" We can help!

If you wish to sow in mulch, sprinkle seeds between the pieces of a shallow, single mulch layer. Wood chips or pea gravel are best for this purpose.

Theodore Payne Foundation, S&S Seeds, Larner Seeds, Seed Hunt) who specialize in California natives. If possible, use locally-native wildflower seeds, but note that it is illegal and unethical to harvest seeds from public lands without a permit. Wildflowers have been in decline for many years, leave the seeds in place.

The wildflower seeds will have a hard time germinating and may not be able to access the water and sunlight that they need to grow. If there is no vegetation in the space where you plan on growing wildflowers, your chances of success may be a bit better if you simply toss the seeds onto the ground.

Maintaining a healthy balance between desired wildflowers and invasive weed species can be challenging. Weeds can infiltrate the meadow and compete with wildflowers for resources. Regular maintenance, including weed removal and occasional mowing, is necessary to manage unwanted plant species.

Cover crop residue must decompose before seeding wildflowers, however, so fall planting is not feasible. Rake off debris and smooth the soil surface before seeding the following spring, but tilling is not recommended as it will bring up more weed seeds. Herbicides.

Dig a hole straight down into the hillside and large enough to accommodate the half pot. Fill with soil and plant your flower at the proper depth. Its been working here for several years. Use drip irrigation or this nifty watering device to slowly provide needed water without washing out the soil.

Perennial wildflowers return year after year, blooming in the second season and for many years to come. They grow more slowly, and in the first season focus the most energy on establishing strong roots, so they typically don't bloom until their second year.

Will seeds grow on top of mulch? ›

It is crucial to not bury your seeds in thick wood chip mulch before they have had a chance to germinate. Small, tiny seeds will not sprout if they are buried in a thick layer of coarse wood chips. For surface sowing seeds, gently press down the soil to remove air pockets.

It can't be said too often: preparation is the key to success when it comes to growing a meadow or garden. Gardeners often ask, “Can I just toss seeds in the grass?” We do NOT recommend it! Planting perennials and bulbs into poorly prepared soil will result in disappointing growth as well.

If you live in an area with minimal or no winter frosts (parts of California, Florida, southern Texas or parts of the South West) you can grow wildflowers any time, however, the hottest time of the year is not recommended. It is best to take advantage of the rains and plant in the late fall when the rain begins.

If your wildflowers germinate well and grow thickly, they should choke out most weeds. When weeds do spring up in the midst of the wildflowers, pull them by hand before they have a chance to flower and disperse their seeds.

Cover crop residue must decompose before seeding wildflowers, however, so fall planting is not feasible. Rake off debris and smooth the soil surface before seeding the following spring, but tilling is not recommended as it will bring up more weed seeds.

You can start flower seeds directly in your garden bed through a method called “direct-sowing.” Direct-sowing works best with annual flower seeds and wildflower seed mixes. With few exceptions, annual flower seeds should not be planted until after the last spring frost.

So, unfortunately, you can't just throw wildflower seeds over your lawn if you want the best results from your wildflower meadow. We advise removing grasses and leaves from your lawn before putting your wildflower seed down.

Prepare: The Key To Success

Do not sow seeds into your lawn without preparing your soil – grasses and weeds are vigorous growers that can out-compete wildflower seedlings, so removing them gives your seedlings the best chance to thrive.