The 2019 Award for Outstanding Fact Sheet – Extension Division from the American Society of Horticultural Science went to this fact sheet. Why Plant Wildflowers?.
Native bees and other pollinators are very important for the growth of many fruit and vegetable crops as well as the reproduction of many plant species in our area. Wildflower gardens and meadows are very important places for animals to live because they provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for hundreds of species of bees, moths, butterflies, and other insects. A meadow ecosystem is also good for many birds, bats, small mammals, and some amphibians because it has food and a place to stay.
Meadows are very important to the ecosystem because they capture and filter stormwater, store carbon, recycle nutrients, build soil, and provide food and shelter for a wide range of plant and animal communities. By planting native grasses and perennials in a dense and varied meadow, property owners can enjoy the beauty of a succession of flowers and plant shapes and feel more connected to nature. Done properly, wildflower meadows are ecologically-friendly landscape components that, once established, have minimal maintenance requirements.
A flower meadow is a gorgeous way to transform your yard into a natural paradise Meadows not only provide visual interest with their swaying grasses and colorful blooms, but they also offer invaluable ecological benefits Meadows provide habitat for pollinators and other wildlife, help manage stormwater runoff, prevent erosion, improve soil health, and sequester carbon.
If you’re ready to ditch the lawn and install your own slice of meadow beauty, follow this comprehensive guide. We’ll walk you through how to select the right site, choose native plants, remove existing vegetation, prepare the soil, plant your meadow, and care for it in its early years as it establishes
Selecting the Right Site
Choosing an optimal location is the first step to meadow success. Meadows require:
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Full sun: At least 6 hours of direct sun daily. Morning sun is especially important.
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Open space: At least 400 sq. ft, the larger the better. Larger meadows support more biodiversity.
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Well-drained soil: Standing water will rot plants’ roots.
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Few weeds: Areas prone to persistent weeds will need preparation.
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Limited foot traffic: Meadows don’t tolerate heavy foot traffic well.
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No recent pesticide use: Chemicals can harm pollinators and other wildlife.
Good potential sites include along fences, adjacent to woodlands, in side or back yards, and in corners of your property. Just ensure your spot gets sufficient sunlight.
Selecting the Right Plants
Native wildflowers, grasses, sedges, rushes, and ferns are ideal for meadows. Native plants evolved in your climate and soil, so they’ll thrive with minimal fuss. Check with your local extension service or native plant society for meadow plant recommendations specific to your region.
Here are some great native plants for Eastern meadows:
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Wildflowers: black-eyed Susan, bee balm, coneflower, aster, goldenrod, ironweed, joe pye weed, milkweed, mountain mint, obedient plant, ox-eye, boneset, coneflower, blazing star, cardinal flower, blue mistflower.
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Grasses/sedges/rushes: little bluestem, big bluestem, Indiangrass, switch grass, Eastern gamma grass, Pennsylvania sedge,Path rush.
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Ferns: cinnamon fern, sensitive fern, interrupted fern, Christmas fern, fragrant fern.
For Western meadows, consider:
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Wildflowers: Gaillardia, cosmos, yarrow, California poppy, blue flax, evening primrose, California fuchsia, penstemon, prairie clover, blanketflower, blackfoot daisy, bluecurl, arroyo lupine, tidytips.
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Grasses: purple three-awn, sideoats grama, blue grama, buffalo grass, poverty dropseed, little bluestem, prairie dropseed.
Removing Existing Vegetation
Existing vegetation must be eliminated before planting your meadow. This prevents weeds from crowding out establishing plants.
You have two options for removing existing plants:
Smother vegetation: Cover the area with black plastic or cardboard for 2-3 months until existing plants die. Avoid tilling afterward.
Remove turf via sod-cutting: Rent a sod cutter to strip off the top few inches of lawn. Be sure to till and weed the area after removing sod.
If you sod cut, allow weeds to regrow after tilling and kill them with a non-selective herbicide. Wait 1 week after spraying before planting.
Preparing and Amending the Soil
Meadow plants prefer low fertility soil, so no need to add compost or fertilizer amendments. In fact, nutrient-rich soil will encourage weeds. Just focus on the following after removing old vegetation:
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Loosen soil to a depth of 4-6 inches with a rototiller if soil is compacted. Don’t disturb soil deeper than 6 inches to avoid bringing up additional weed seeds.
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Rake soil smooth and remove any debris like rocks, branches or roots.
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Water soil deeply the day before planting to moisten soil down to 6 inches. Let soil drain before planting.
Planting Your Meadow
It’s best to plant your meadow in either spring or fall, when soil temps are cool. Sow your wildflower seed mix and native grass seed separately for even coverage. Here’s how:
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Wildflowers: Mix wildflower seeds with sterile sand to aid even spreading. Scatter seed by hand across the site, then gently rake into the soil surface.
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Grasses: Sprinkle grass seed lightly across entire area. You need much less grass seed than wildflower seed. Cover grass seed by gently raking.
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Compress seed: Roll the area with a water-filled lawn roller to press seed firmly into soil. Or walk across site.
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Mulch: Spread a thin layer of weed-free straw or salt hay over installed areas to protect seeds and retain moisture.
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Water: Water gently daily until seedlings emerge, then resume normal watering.
Caring for Your Establishing Meadow
Your meadow will require care in its first 2-3 years as roots establish. Here are some tips:
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Water 1-2 times per week for 10-15 minutes if rain is lacking. Always water gently to avoid displacing seeds.
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Weed regularly to prevent invasive plants from gaining a foothold.
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Mow once in late fall after the first season to tidy up dead growth. Mow to a height of 4-6 inches.
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Re-seed bare or thin patches in spring to boost density.
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Apply mulch around spring-emerging plants if cold snaps occur.
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Avoid foot traffic and wait 2 full seasons before using your meadow recreationally.
Be patient – it takes time for a meadow to fill in and look mature. But your patience will pay off with a vibrant, low-maintenance sanctuary for you and local wildlife to enjoy for years.
These photos show the growth and development of the same meadow planting over time.
First year after planting (mid-June).
First year after planting (mid-August).
Second year after planting (mid-June).
Second year after planting (early August).
Third year after planting (early June).
Third year after planting (early August).
Third year after planting (late September).
A meadow doesn’t need to be mowed during the winter every year; it only needs to be done often enough to keep weeds and trees from growing back.
UNH custom mix of reliable species, suitable for sunny sites with medium to dry soils and a pH of 5 or above. Suggested seeding rate is 0.5 lbs per thousand square feet of area.
- Aguilegia canadensis, Red Columbine, 3%
- Asclepias syriaca, Common Milkweed, 3%
- Chamaecrista fasciculata, Partridge Pea, 8%
- Coreopsis lanceolata, Lanceleaf Coreopsis, 3%
- Echinacea purpurea, Purple Coneflower, 7%
- Echinacea pallida, Pale Purple Coneflower, 11%
- Eutrochium purpureum,Purple Joe-Pye Weed, 1.5%
- Heliopsis helianthoides, Oxeye Sunflower, 2%
- Monarda fistulosa, Wild Bergamot, 0.50%
- Monarda punctata, Dotted Horsemint, 0.50%
- Oligoneuron rigidum, Stiff Goldenrod, 0.50%
- Penstemon digitalis, Foxglove Beardtongue, 1.5%
- Ratibida pinnata, Yellow Coneflower, 3.5%
- Rudbeckia hirta, Black Eyed Susan, 2%
- Solidago speciosa, Showy Goldenrod, 1%
- Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, New England Aster, 1%
- Symphyotrichum laeve, Smooth Blue Aster, 2%
- Elymus canadensis, Canada Wild Rye, 10%
- Shizachyrium scoparium, Little Bluestem, 30%
- Sorghastrum nutans, Indian Grass, 10%
It takes three years to successfully grow a meadow from seeds. The first year is spent making sure the site is ready. This isn’t the fun part but eliminating competitive weeds before you plant is essential to long-term success. How you start will depend on the conditions of the work site and the tools and materials you choose. The following techniques were created from research and demonstration plantings in New Hampshire. They can be used in the Northeast and other places with similar weather conditions.
How To Plant A Wildflower Meadow Part I
FAQ
Can I just throw wildflower seeds on the ground?
What month is best to plant wildflower seeds?
How do you prepare ground for wildflower meadow?
Can you plant wildflowers in a meadow?
There is plenty of room for a myriad of annuals, biennials and perennials in a meadow! To begin establishing your wildflower lawn, you can plant wildflower plugs, or broadcast seeds – or both.
How do you start a meadow with seeds?
You can start meadows with seeds, or try wildflower plugs, mats or turf. Wildflower plugs are single plants or clusters of seedlings. Wildflower mats have seeds infused in compressed mulch, which you roll across an area and cover with a thin layer of soil. Wildflower turf is similar to turfgrass sod but with live wildflowers.
How do I start a wildflower meadow?
Whichever way you go, the key is understanding your soil and climate, and choosing the right native plants accordingly. You can start meadows with seeds, or try wildflower plugs, mats or turf. Wildflower plugs are single plants or clusters of seedlings.
What is a wildflower meadow?
A wildflower meadow is an area of grass where wildflowers grow – as opposed to a bed of poppies or cornflowers, for example. There are different varieties of wildflower meadow that you can plant depending on if your soil is fertile or poor.
How long does it take to grow a wildflower meadow?
With a wildflower meadow, you’ll often have to wait two seasons, or three, to reap the most benefits. See, natural meadows evolve over years and years. It takes time to develop intricate relationships between animals, plants and microorganisms.
Should a wildflower meadow be annual or perennial?
‘At its most simple, an annual meadow does best in areas where nutrient levels are high but will need resowing every year,’ explains Rob Jones. so might be the best choice if you are planning the wildflower meadow to replace existing flower border. A perennial meadow will establish better on poor soil.