Pollinator Garden Desk: sow a wildflower patch this fall
Fall is the best time to sow most native wildflowers. Winter cold and damp wake up the seed, and it sprouts in spring. Pick your region for the sowing window, enter your patch for seed and carrier amounts, and build a plant list that blooms from spring to frost. The desk also checks which seasons the flowers and herbs in My Garden cover. Your plan saves on your device. No account needed.
Free pollinator garden planner. Find when to sow wildflower seed in your region, how much seed and carrier your patch needs, how to kill grass first, and native plants that bloom from spring to frost.
When to sow wildflower seed by region
In cold-winter regions, wait until after the first few hard freezes, when soil is below 45F, so seed stays dormant until spring. In mild regions, sow ahead of winter rain.
| Region | Sow | Mix |
|---|---|---|
| New England | October to December | Perennial wildflowers |
| Mid-Atlantic | October to January | Perennial wildflowers |
| Southeast | November to February | Annual and perennial wildflowers |
| Upper Midwest | October to December | Perennial wildflowers |
| Northern Plains | October to December | Perennial wildflowers |
| Southern Plains | October to January | Perennial and annual wildflowers |
| Mountain West and Great Basin | October to December | Perennial wildflowers |
| Southwest | February to May | Annual and perennial wildflowers |
| California | October to January | Annual wildflowers |
| Pacific Northwest | September to mid October | Annual and perennial wildflowers |
How much seed
The Xerces Society uses 1/4 to 1/3 lb of mix per 1,000 sq ft, about 20 to 40 seeds per sq ft. UNH Extension uses 1/2 lb per 1,000 sq ft for a mix with native grasses. Mix seed with damp sand or vermiculite so it spreads evenly.
| Area | Seed at 1/4 lb per 1,000 sq ft | Seed 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 |
| 1000 sq ft | 4 oz | 8 oz | 1 to 2 gal |
| 2000 sq ft | 8 oz | 16 oz | 2 to 4 gal |
Kill the grass first
Wildflower seedlings stay small their first year and cannot compete with lawn grass. UNH Extension smothers turf under cardboard or 4 to 6 mil black plastic from mid June to mid September, then sows that fall. Do not till and do not add compost. Wildflowers do best in low-fertility soil.
Native plants by bloom season
| Plant | Season | Bloom |
|---|---|---|
| Red columbine | Spring | April to June |
| Golden Alexanders | Spring | May to June |
| Lanceleaf coreopsis | Early summer | May to July |
| Foxglove beardtongue | Early summer | June |
| Black-eyed Susan | Summer | June to September |
| Butterfly weed (monarch host) | Summer | June to August |
| Wild bergamot | Midsummer | July to August |
| Purple coneflower | Midsummer | July to August |
| Anise hyssop | Midsummer to fall | July to September |
| Showy goldenrod | Fall | August to October |
| New England aster | Fall | August to October |
Guides
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