How and when to sow wildflower seeds

Sowing into a prepared seed bed

Once you’ve prepared a weed-free seed bed with moist soil and raked it level, you can mix wildflower seeds with a little sand to make it easier to sow them and then scatter the mix evenly across the bare soil. This is a fairly easy method, but generally not as reliable as planting out plugs.

Sowing into a seed tray or plug modules

Sowing into a seed tray or plug modules takes the most time, but generally yields the best results. Fill trays or modules with peat-free seed compost and spread seeds thinly into the tray or sow two or three seeds in each module. Cover with a fine layer of sieved compost and stand trays or modules in water to moisten the compost. For autumn sowings, leave in a cold frame or unheated greenhouse until spring and plant out when seedlings are well established. For spring sowings, plant out after a couple of months when seedlings are large enough to cope outside.

Choosing a type of wildflower meadow

Consider whether you want to use British wildflowers or if you'd prefer a 'pictorial meadow' planted with non-native, often annual flowers and no grass. Pictorial meadows tend to be more colourful than traditional meadows, but have less value for wildlife and need reseeding every year. As pictorial meadows contain non-native seeds, it's advisable to not grow them if you live in the countryside, as they can self-seed into wild areas.

Choosing wildflower seeds

If you're opting for native wildflowers then the best wildflowers to buy are those of UK provenance, this means the flowers have been grown in the UK and will help to support local, native wildflower populations. If you opt for a pictorial meadow then you may want to consider a seed mix based on colour or length of display. If sowing seeds to fill gaps in the border or in pots, then consider using wildflowers in a range of heights, colours and length of display. You could buy a ready made seed mix or individual packets of seed to create your own colourful display.

When to sow wildflower seeds

The best time to sow wildflower seeds is in early to mid-spring or in September, depending on soil conditions and the type of seed you're sowing (check the packet for details). Don’t sow in autumn on heavy soils, however an autumn sowing works well for wildflowers that need a cold period over winter to help with germination.

Where to sow wildflower seeds

You can sow wildflower seed almost anywhere – on prepared soil, in a seedbed or in gaps in borders or in pots, but avoid sowing on to heavy, clay soils, as water-logging in winter could inhibit growth or kill seedlings.

How to sow wildflower seeds

You can sow wildflower seeds in a number of ways: scattering seed, sowing into a prepared seed bed or sowing seed indoors in seed trays or plug modules. Scattering or throwing wildflower seeds on bare ground is the easiest way to sow wildflower seeds but rarely yields good results. For best results, aim to sow thinly over bare patches of moist, weed-free soil that's been raked level, and keep the soil moist to ensure even germination. Bear in mind that throwing wildflower seed on to bare soil can result in irregular germination and patches of wildflowers appearing, rather than an even distribution of blooms.

Sowing wildflowers in a seed tray or plug modules to plant out later is the most efficient way to sow wildflowers, as it results in a greater germination and overall success rate. If sowing in this way, use peat-free, multi-purpose compost and cover the seeds with the lightest dusting of compost. Keep in a light spot out of direct sunlight and keep the compost moist. Transplant the seedlings outside after all risk of frost has passed.

As an alternative to sowing seed, you can buy wildflower plug plants, which you simply plant into the ground where you want them to grow. You can also lay wildflower turf over raked and firmed but unfed bare soil.

Caring for wildflowers

Wildflowers need little care unless you're growing them in containers, when they'll need regular watering. Most species thrive in poor soils, so avoid feeding them as this will result in the growth of grasses, which can out-compete the flowers. Water young seedlings in dry weather.

Weeds and grass can be a problem with wildflower patches, as they can out-compete wildflowers and inhibit their growth. Grass growth can be suppressed by sowing yellow rattle, a hemiparasite that feeds on grasses and reduces their vigour, therefore helping wildflowers to thrive. Weeds are also very vigorous and can quickly out-compete wildflowers. They should be dug out before they set seed.

Here, Monty Don explains how to remove perennial weeds such as sock and thistles, from a wildflower meadow.

Pests and diseases

UK wildflowers are well adapted to the environment in which they grow, so they are resilient to many pests and diseases. Slugs and snails can be an issue when plants are establishing from seed, but they are part of a healthy garden ecosystem, so should be tolerated if possible. The mix of plants also helps reduce the likelihood of problems. Wildflowers will also encourage natural predators into the garden that help control pests on other plants.

Frequently asked questions

What are the easiest wildflowers to grow?

Most wildflowers are fairly easy to grow provided you give them the right conditions. Make sure you choose a seed mix that’s suited to the soil, moisture levels and aspect of your wildflower area. Perennial mixes will take longer to establish, but don’t need to be resown each year and provide extremely biodiverse habitats. The easiest way to establish a wildflower lawn is simply to stop mowing and see what wildflowers emerge. Wildflower plug plants can then be added to increase the floral diversity.

What's the best way to prepare ground for wildflower seeds?

The best way to prepare the ground for wildflower seeds is to remove perennial weeds and rake the area level a few weeks before sowing, so that any weed seeds can germinate and seedlings can be removed. For most wildflowers to thrive, the soil needs to be low in fertility. If you're sowing into bare patches in lawns, make sure you remove the cuttings every time you mow to avoid increasing the fertility of the soil.

It used to be advised to remove topsoil before sowing wildflower seeds, but this is time-consuming, can be costly, and damages soil structure and networks. The fertility of the soil shouldn't be an issue on chalk and limestone soils, or for annual meadows. For perennial meadows, choose a seed mix specially suited for your soil type.