How to Plant a Wildflower Meadow

Wildflower meadows have a diverse mix of native grasses and flowers. They can be grown in large areas, small patches or tight borders along houses, fences and other structures. Many people are growing wildflower meadows to create a low-maintenance landscape in their backyards. They are also planting wildflowers to replace grass, increase biodiversity, attract wildlife, and provide food and shelter for birds and pollinators.

You can grow a wildlife meadow almost anywhere, from a large field to a small window box. The key is to have at least six hours of full sun (or four hours for a shady wildflower mix). Once the work of planting the meadow is done, you'll have a beautiful natural garden that blooms year after year.

The better you prepare your site, the more successful your wildflower meadow will be in both the short and long term. The main objective is to remove grasses, weeds and other plants that will compete with your wildflowers. You can usually kill a grassy area by mowing it short and laying black plastic over it for at least 8 weeks in hot weather. You can also use a rototiller or hand tools to break up soil and remove root systems. Fine, breadcrumb-like soil is the best texture for seed germination. This allows the seed to make direct contact with the soil.

When selecting plants for a wildflower meadow, it's essential to choose grasses and flowers native to your specific region. Native plants are typically drought-tolerant, disease-resistant and beneficial to native wildlife. The National Wildlife Federation offers a free online native plant finder that lets you search for plants by zip code. The Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center has a list of recommended species by state.

Selecting plants to fit the habitat is also important. Is your site sunny or shady? Wet or dry? Flat or sloped? All of these factors will help you determine the species best suited to your meadow. A final consideration is wildlife. Do you want seeds for birds, nectar for pollinators, host plants for butterflies, or a combination of all three? You can select plants tailored to the wildlife you want to conserve.

It can be tempting to pick up a box of generic "wildflower seeds" from your local garden center. However, these boxes can be problematic because they may contain non-native or invasive plant seeds that dominate the meadow and disrupt the ecosystem. They can also contain inert materials, seeds with low germination rates, or filler that creates bare spots and places for invasive weeds to grow.

It is better to harvest your own seeds from native plants in your garden. Community seed swaps are also a good source of wildflower seeds. Many nature centers, native plant societies and groups like Wild Ones have native plant sales and free seed-sharing events and classes to help you learn how to prepare seeds and grow wildflower meadows. Some non-profit organizations, such as Operation Pollination, will even mail free seed packets to your home. You can also find companies that specialize in selling native wildflower seeds specifically for homegrown meadows.

You can use a seed spreader (available at garden centers) to sow your wildflower seeds, but it isn't necessary. Hand-sowing works just as well. Place your seeds in a bucket, and then spread them by the handful so that they are evenly and consistently distributed. For best coverage, sow half of the seed while walking east to west and then walk back through the same areas and sow from north to south.

It is also a very good idea to mix the seed with construction sand, play sand or silver sand. Wildflower seeds are very small. The sand will help the seed spread evenly and also allow you to see where you have and haven't spread the seed. Use ten parts of sand to every one part of seed.

You do not need to cover wildflower seeds with dirt, but you do need to make sure the seeds make good contact with the soil. Gently walk over the seeds to press them into the dirt. Then, give them a good gentle soaking with a hose, sprinkler or irrigation system. 

Wildflower seeds need moisture to germinate, and tiny seedlings need consistent moisture for the first four to six weeks to establish roots. Watering frequency can be reduced once the plants reach a height of six to eight inches. A sprinkler attached to a timer can make the watering process easier, more affordable and more consistent. 

Irrigation needs can vary depending on the plant species, climate and rainfall levels, but established wildflower meadows with drought-tolerant native plants typically require little to no supplemental watering. A 1/2 inch of supplemental water per week may be necessary during a heat wave or if you live in a particularly hot or arid climate. If you are having a very hot day, you will want to water early in the morning that day and again in the morning on the following day.

Wildflower meadows do not require much maintenance, but there are a few tasks you should perform each year. First, cut down and remove any diseased foliage you see so the disease doesn't proliferate in the soil. Then, look for invasive weeds that may need to be removed. Removing them before they go to seed is the most effective way to prevent unwanted plants from dominating your meadow. Finally, collect seeds from some of your favorite wildflowers to share with friends, plant in another area of your yard or reseed in bare spots within your meadow.

Mowing the meadow isn't strictly necessary. Leaving the meadow standing can be beneficial for wildlife. Birds eat wildflower seeds during the winter months, and beneficial insects, including moths, butterflies, and solitary native bees overwinter in plant debris. Standing plants also insulate vulnerable perennial crowns and roots in cold temperatures.

Some people do choose to mow all or part of their meadow once a year. Mowing can reduce weeds, disperse desirable seeds and help you comply with local aesthetic regulations, such as HOA rules.  Experts often recommend mowing once in the fall, after the wildflowers have gone to seed, or once in the spring, when daytime temperatures consistently reach 50 degrees for a week or more.

Over time, you can make structural or aesthetic additions to your meadow. Some options include mowed footpaths, benches or chairs, birdhouses, bat houses, insect shelters, fairy gardens and photo blinds.