How to Plant a Wildflower Garden with Seeds
Last updated August 1, 2024
Waves of wildflowers are a breathtaking sight, and a welcome one every growing season. Get the look of a wildflower meadow when you plant flower seed mixes of annuals and perennials in your sunny garden space.
Wildflower beds and meadows take time to establish and mature, but once they do, you'll have a garden that attracts pollinators like hummingbirds and butterflies and changes during the season as plants come in and out of bloom.
Wildflower beds are a good solution for full-sun dry slopes and uncultivated areas of your landscape.
Growing from seed is easy and rewarding, and because many of these plants will self-sow, it's an inexpensive way to make more plants.
Difficulty:
Beginner
Duration:
Over 1 day
Table of Contents
Select a Sunny Site
Select a Seed Mix
Plant Seed Mix
How to Care for a Wildflower Garden
Select a Sunny Site
Most wildflower mixes will specify a full sun location for the most flowers. To get started, pick a location that gets steady sunlight and break up the soil using a shovel. A rotary tiller will save time if you plan to plant a large area.
If the soil is heavy with clay, mix in some sphagnum peat moss, composted organic material (you can easily create your own organic mulch by composting old leaves and lawn clippings) or use a premium garden soil that includes these beneficial ingredients.
Tip: Be sure to wear work gloves, sturdy shoes and other protective clothing when working on your new garden.
Select a Seed Mix
Wildflower mixes are made up of different colored annuals, biennials and perennials, and most are designed to grow in full sunlight. Read package directions and pay attention to instructions for planting, such as spacing, thinning, if needed, and mature height. Many will bloom better the second year after sowing.
Most packaged wildflower mixes include growing media and fertilizer, and you will not need to add sand, vermiculite or garden soil in order to broadcast the seed. If you're using a homemade seed mixture, add 4 parts inert matter to 1 part seed.
Here are some flowers commonly found in wildflower seed mixes:
- Alyssum
- Amaranthus
- Blanket flower
- Calendula
- California poppy
- Chrysanthemum
- Coneflower
- Cornflower
- Coreopsis
- Cosmos
- Crimson clover
- Delphinium
- Painted daisy
- Prairie aster
- Prairie blazing star
- Purple prairie cover
- Sweet alyssum
Plant Seed Mix
How to plant a wildflower seed mix:
- Select an area in full sun with soil that drains well. Weed the area and rake smooth.
- Sow seeds according to the package instructions. Read package directions; some seeds need to be soaked in water before planting.
- Cover seeds lightly with soil, a mixture of soil and sand, or decomposed granite. Don’t cover seeds that need light to germinate.
- Water with a light mist immediately after planting.
- Water the seedbed daily, keeping it moist until seeds have germinated. Then water every other day.
- Thin plants growing too closely together and regularly remove weeds.
- Cover seeds or seedlings with row covers or burlap to keep them from washing away or being flattened from hard rain. Shade cloth protects tiny seedlings if the sun gets too hot.
Tip: Try adding seedlings or plugs of your favorite wildflowers and native plants to build up your wildflower meadow.
How to Care for a Wildflower Garden
Water frequently to get mix established. Allow up to 21 days for germination.
During the growing season, apply an organic fertilizer made for flowers.
Encourage beneficial predators such as ladybugs, lacewings, flies and praying mantises to provide natural pest control instead of applying pesticides. Learn more about beneficial insects.
Be familiar with the flowers in the seed mix, so that you can identify weeds and prevent them from becoming a problem in your garden. If your goal is a perennial wildflower meadow, keep in mind that it takes several growing seasons to establish a wildflower meadow. During this time, you'll need to pull up the weeds, work to improve the soil and sow more seeds. Over time, your work will pay off as the flowers go to seed, germinate and grow again.
When you plant a wildflower garden, you're sowing a garden that you will enjoy for many seasons. And when you're ready for the right tools, seeds and soil, The Home Depot delivers online orders
when and where you need them.
