1. Plan Your Wildflower Planting
Planning includes choosing where to plant wildflowers, calculating how much seed you need, and timing your wildflower planting,
Plan Where To Plant
- Choose a spot on your property that receives at least 6 hours of sun per day. The more sun, the better with Wildflowers. South-facing spaces will receive the most sunlight throughout the day.
- Good soil drainage is needed for healthy root growth.
- If anything is growing in the area, such as grass or weeds, the area should support wildflowers.
Plan How Much Seed
- Measure the area where you will plant your wildflowers and calculate the square footage of your planting area.
- Then, reference the seed coverage rates for your wildflower seeds or wildflower mix. This information is listed under the “Key Features” of every product page. Seed coverage rates vary greatly with individual wildflower species, so it's important to check before planting.
- For best results, plant the recommended amount of seed for your area. Too little, and your planting will be sparse. Too much, and your seedlings will be crowded, resulting in poor flowering.
Plan When To Plant
In all areas, you can seed in spring, just as long as the chance for frost has passed. Fall, just before the rainy season, is the best time for sowing seeds in the desert Southwest. In areas that get snowfall, winter seeding can give seeds a leg up in spring.
Spring Planting:
- Spring is a great time to plant Wildflowers in most states. In spring, wait until your ground temperatures have warmed to 55°F, and there is no chance of frost in your area.
- If you're in a warmer climate, where spring and summer heat up early, you will want to plant at the tail end of your "rainy season" which will give the seeds plenty of natural water to germinate.
Fall/Winter Planting:
- Fall planting is a great choice for dry areas, as it allows you to take advantage of winter precipitation and cooler temperatures to help seedlings grow.
- Planting in the fall gives the seed a jump start on spring growth once the ground thaws. It also helps to reduce the growth of weeds, as the wildflowers get the chance to start growing and take over the weeds in the early spring.
Fall/winter planting in areas with cold winters, hard frosts & frozen ground:
- If you live in an area where you have a true "winter season," meaning you receive hard frost and the ground stays frozen for several months, then fall is the perfect time to plant!
- Wait until you've had several killing frosts and ground temperatures are cool enough that the seeds will not get the chance to germinate until the spring.
If you are in an area where your ground does not freeze (California, southern Texas, or Florida, etc.):
- The best time to plant is just before your rainiest season begins, so the weather won't be too hot for young seedlings. In Florida, fall is best. In California and Texas, most wildflowers are planted during the winter to take advantage of early spring greening.
