Wildflower and native grass meadow
Start by measuring the wildflower seed project site
How much wildflower seed do I need? Well, first decide how much ground you will expose to seeding wildflowers or native grasses. Get the square footage by measuring length x width. So then if you have 200 feet by 10 feet you have 2000 square ft. Be aware of the type of soil and the weed competition you may encounter with unwanted species whose seeds may be present in the soil bank. If the site has been kept mown, and is not a weedy area you will be able to use a lesser rate than in an area where a lot of competition from weeds or grass is expected.
How to choose which wildflower or grass seed mix to use?
Our mixes are designed for a purpose or a region. So once you’ve determined your goal (example: attracting pollinators), choose which Holland Wildflower Farm seed mix or mixes are best suited for your purpose. Then decide how much seed you need. We advise that you seed your site when you have taken measures to minimize weed competition and prepare your soil for seeding. The seed rates are in the mix descriptions and they are listed in the table below: recommended seeding rates for each wildflower seed mix or native grass mix.
Explanantion of seed rate ranges and your location and specific site conditions
Project analysis will help determine how much seed you will need. Each of our seed mixes has its own recommended seeding rate found in the description for that mix (see table below). The recommendation for most mixes will come with a range, such as 10-20 pounds per acre. This means that one pound of seed will cover between 2,000 and 4,000 square feet. (A strip 20 feet wide and 100 feet long equals 2000 square feet.) So, do you need 10 pounds per acre or 20 pounds? In the southern, especially southeastern areas the weed competition is greater and the highest seed rate is generally recommended. Additional considerations are given after the table. Thank you for using your ground to make the world a better place.
Seed Mix Chart gives recommended rates for wildflower or native grass mixes below
Other considerations about Wildflower and Native Grass seeding rates :
- Southern states, especially those in the Southeast, should use the highest recommended rate because of the intense weed pressure.
- Use the higher rate if you expect high competition from weedy species. Weeds can be a problem if the site was not thoroughly prepared before planting–see our Planting Guide–or if it has a history of weeds (weed seeds in the soil), especially from non-native invasive species.
- A higher rate is advised if the site will not be strawed (lightly mulched with straw or excelsior blankets for short term erosion control) after seeding or irrigated during drought in the first year. We recommend using a light mulch because it will hold moisture to the seed.
- If your site has rocky or very thin soil, you may want to consider adding a 2-4 in layer of compost to give the seeds enough moisture to take hold of the soil. Wildflowers and native grass seeds do NOT need fertile soil but they do need to be able to penetrate the initial soil surface before their small but powerful roots begin to take hold.
A final note: native grass seed mixes are often seeded with wildflower mixes on the same site. If seeding both grass and wildflowers, you can use a lower rate of native grass mix (no less than half rate). But do not reduce the rate of wildflower seed because they need the edge on grasses to get an even chance of establishing themselves. Also use the higher rate of flower seed as it will achieve a more natural meadow look with plenty of food for pollinators.