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Fall Native Seed Sowing
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Date Posted: Tue, Oct 21 - 12:33 am
- I am getting ready to sow native flower seeds. I plan on just casting them on soil (blanket flower, tickseed sunflower, cardinal flower, salvia, turtlehead and coneflower) I have some heavily mulched areas and understand I should rake that back so they contact the dirt and rake it back in the spring. I also have a lot of trees and wonder if it's ok if seeds are covered w leaves, or should I wait until all of the leaves fall and clear the area as I would the mulch? Thank you!
- Thanks for reaching out to the Richmond Master Gardeners! Those are all wonderful native choices that benefit from being sown now so they can go through a natural winter cold stratification period. You’re also correct that good seed-to-soil contact is key for germination. Here’s how to approach each situation: Mulched areas: Yes — rake the mulch back before sowing so the seeds can fall directly onto the soil. After seeding, gently press them in (you can even walk over the area) so they make contact with the soil surface. Leave the mulch off for winter and rake it lightly back in the spring after seedlings start to emerge and you can see where they’ve sprouted. Leaf-covered areas: A thin layer of leaves is fine — it can even help protect seeds from washing away and mimic natural forest duff. However, a heavy mat of leaves (especially large, flat ones like oak or maple) can smother seeds and block light in spring. If you have thick leaf cover, wait until most have fallen, then lightly clear the area before sowing or thin the layer to about an inch so seeds can still reach the soil and get some light and moisture. Good luck! We hope you have lots of success!