How Much Wildflower Seed per Square Foot
Plan on 1/4 to 1/2 lb of wildflower mix per 1,000 sq ft, about 4 to 8 oz. The Xerces Society says its mixes work out to 20 to 40 seeds per sq ft, and 40 t...
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How Much Wildflower Seed per Square Foot
Use 1/4 to 1/2 lb of wildflower mix per 1,000 sq ft. That is 4 to 8 oz. For a 10 by 20 foot patch, which is 200 sq ft, you need about 0.8 to 1.6 oz.
The Pollinator Garden Desk does this math for your patch, splits it into blocks, and tells you how much carrier to mix in.
Rates From the Sources
| Source | Rate | Seeds per sq ft |
|---|---|---|
| Xerces Society pollinator mixes | 1/4 to 1/3 lb per 1,000 sq ft | About 20 to 40 |
| Xerces Society custom mix | Set by the vendor | 40 to 60 |
| UNH Extension mix with native grasses | 1/2 lb per 1,000 sq ft (20 lb per acre) | Not stated |
Wildflower seed sizes vary a lot. A rate by weight only works for the mix it was written for. If your packet or bag gives a rate, use it.
Quick Table
| Area | At 1/4 lb per 1,000 sq ft | At 1/2 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Carrier |
|---|---|---|---|
| 100 sq ft | 0.4 oz | 0.8 oz | 0.1 to 0.2 gal |
| 250 sq ft | 1 oz | 2 oz | 0.25 to 0.5 gal |
| 500 sq ft | 2 oz | 4 oz | 0.5 to 1 gal |
| 1,000 sq ft | 4 oz | 8 oz | 1 to 2 gal |
| 2,000 sq ft | 8 oz | 16 oz | 2 to 4 gal |
Carrier is from UNH Extension: 0.5 to 1 gallon of vermiculite per 500 sq ft.
Why Use a Carrier
Wildflower seed is tiny and uneven. Mixed with damp sand or vermiculite, it spreads evenly and you can see where you have already sown. The Xerces Society uses 2 to 3 parts carrier per part seed by volume. Split the mix in half and sow the halves in two directions.
On a big patch, UNH Extension marks the ground into blocks of 400 to 500 sq ft and weighs out seed for each block.
More Seed Is Not Better
Too much seed wastes money and crowds seedlings. A weedy site is better fixed with site prep than with extra seed. See how to kill grass for a wildflower meadow.
Related
- How to plant wildflower seeds in fall
- Pollinator plants by bloom season
- How many seeds to buy for a vegetable garden
Sources: Xerces Society, Establishing Pollinator Meadows from Seed; Xerces Society, Pollinator Conservation Seed Mixes; UNH Extension, Planting for Pollinators: Establishing a Wildflower Meadow from Seed.