- 1). Check with your homeowner's association or city ordinances if you are planning on replacing the front lawn with wildflowers. Many HOAs, and some cities, have strict rules about landscaping in the front yard, and may require you to have a lawn.
- 2). Remove the existing grass. This is the most difficult part, and there are different ways to go about accomplishing it. You can rent a sod cutter at your local nursery, which will make a clean cut and remove grass below the roots. You can then dispose of the grass, or replant it in a different location. Another method involves covering the grass with layers of newspaper, placing mulch on top and leaving it in place for several months. Next, rake away and dispose of the dead grass and newspapers. Finally, you can spray the lawn with an herbicide, rake away the dead grass and wait for at least 14 days before seeding with flowers.
- 3). Prepare the planting site by removing any rocks or obstructions. Break up any large dirt clods, and rake the soil smooth. Work organic compost into the top 3 inches of soil.
- 4). Choose a wildflower seed mix suitable for your gardening area. Mixes are usually prepared based on region of the country, such as Midwest, Northeast or South. If your planting site is mostly shaded, be certain to select a mixture that is formulated to tolerate shade, as most wildflowers prefer full sun.
- 5). Spend a little extra money to purchase a high-quality wildflower mix from a website or company specializing in wildflowers. There are many cheap, generic flower mixes available, but inexpensive mixes will usually be composed mostly of filler. Purchase a seed mixture that lists names and percentages of each type of flower included.
- 6). Purchase enough seed to thoroughly cover your planting area. Seed coverage will be stated on the flower mix.
- 7). Sow the wildflower seeds on a day with no wind. The time of year for planting will be given on the seed package, usually late autumn or early spring. Mix the seed with a bucket of sand to ensure even distribution. You can scatter seed by hand, or use a seed spreader for larger areas.
- 8). Walk in vertical rows while spreading seed through your planting area, and then repeat while walking in horizontal rows for best coverage. Keep your rows evenly spaced and straight.
- 9). Water the wildflower seed bed gently, and keep it moist until germination occurs. You will usually see the first green shoots within eight days, but different varieties of flower have different germination times. Full germination of all flower varieties will take up to four weeks.
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Keep the area moist for the first six weeks. After that, slowly cut back on watering, but do not allow the new plants to dry out. Your watering schedule will depend on your specific climate, rainfall and temperature. Check the soil to determine its need for water. - 11
Pull any weeds while your wildflowers are getting established. It can be challenging to differentiate between a weed and a desired plant, so err on the side of caution. - 12
Watch for blooming to begin two to three months after you've planted the wildflowers.
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