Planting Information

How to Plant Wildflowers

Your Guide to a Successful Wildflower Planting

Seeding wildflowers without planning and maintenance can be disastrous. Planting wildflowers takes work, and like planting seeds of grasses, vegetables, and garden flowers, must be done correctly, in the right spot and at the right time. In addition, once seeds are sown, care and maintenance is required when growing wildflowers to insure a successful outcome. This detailed guide will provide instructions on how to plant wildflowers so that you can create a beautiful wildflower meadow or wildflower garden.

Creating a Wildflower Seed Mixture

Applewood Seed Company’s wildflower seed mixtures are composed of adaptable, easy-to-grow species that are suitable for average soil and moisture conditions. Most mixes are composed of annual and perennial flower seeds.

Seed Quality

Applewood is one of the few seed companies that maintains its own seed testing laboratory which is managed by a Registered Seed Technologist. We test all of our seeds to insure that seed quality meets state and federal seed standards.

Selecting the Right Seed Mix

Each regional wildflower seed mix is designed to fit the broad cross-section of conditions that generally exist within a specific geographic region, i.e., variations in soil, slope, drainage, exposure and availability of moisture.

Selecting and Preparing a Site for Wildflowers

Creating a beautiful wildflower meadow or field of wildflowers requires a little more effort and planning than most people realize. Sowing wildflower seeds without care and planning usually produces unsatisfactory results.

Wildflower Seed Planting Rate

Using the correct planting rate is important when growing wildflowers from seed. Our wildflower mixtures have a recommended minimum and maximum planting rate. The planting rates for some mixtures are adjusted higher due to the presence of small-seeded, nonaggressive species.

When to Plant Wildflower Seeds

The best time to plant in your area depends on the climate and rainfall patterns as well as the type of seeds you are planting. In cool climates, planting wildflower seeds in spring or early summer is ideal since temperatures are warm enough for germination but not so hot that it’s difficult to keep seeded areas moist.

How to Sow Wildflower Seeds

Knowing how to sow wildflower seeds properly for your type of project will help you get maximum germination and establishment. The method of application depends on the size of the area and the terrain.

Planting Grasses with Wildflowers

Wildflowers can be sown with grasses to create a flowering meadow or prairie. For most areas of the United States, we recommend using one of our native grass seed mixtures.

Maintaining Wildflower Gardens and Meadows

All seeds, including wildflower seeds, need ample moisture to germinate and to develop into healthy seedlings. Best results will be obtained by soaking the planted areas thoroughly and maintaining consistent moisture for 4-6 weeks.

Weed Control

Weed control is the biggest problem facing wildflower establishment for direct-seeded projects and one which has no easy solution. Weed seeds are present in many situations and lie dormant, but viable, for long periods. A weedy area converted to wildflowers will have a large reservoir of weed seeds in the soil, ready to germinate when conditions are favorable.

What to Expect From Your Wildflower Garden

Wildflowers can provide an excellent, low cost alternative in large-scale, high maintenance situations, as well as a satisfying change from traditional urban landscaping. However, during their initial establishment period, wildflowers require as much maintenance as traditional plantings.

Wildflower Planting Resources

We have compiled an additional list of resources that may help you with your planting and growing needs. These include information on plant selection, wildlife gardening, and conservation practices.