Spring is in full swing and as temperatures begin to rise it means that wildflowers can be planted. Many people are choosing to plant meadows on their properties now as opposed to keeping it as manicured lawns for many reasons! Wildflower meadows offer habitats for native birds and insects, including pollinators, which are very important for the environment. Meadows are also a lot lower in maintenance once they are established as opposed to a lawn which needs yearly rounds of fertilizer and weed control. 

Choosing your flowers

At Rohrer's we have made choosing your wildflowers easy by offering pre-mixed packets of flower seed with no added filler. For those seeking a native mix, you should go with the Northeastern Wildflower Mix which is a mix of annuals and perennials. Please check out our other wildflower mixes as well!

Choosing your filler

The next step is to pick what other seed you will put down with your flowers, if any. Our most common recommendation is to use Rohrer's Low Maintenance Grass Seed mix which is a combination of fescue grasses and perennial rye. The first photo above is similar to what it will look like when matured. Low Maintenance grass mix is hardy and does well in shade.

Another choice would be to do little bluestem grass which is a native warm season grass. The 2nd photo above shows what little bluestem looks like in a field setting. For ecological purposes little bluestem would be a great choice. It takes a long time for it to fully mature and will reach 2-3 feet tall with blooms adding more height as well. 

The ratio of grass you use will be up to you but many of our customers want a high density of flowers so they will do a 0.5-1.0 lbs of grass per pound of wildflowers. Other times, people will do 8-10 pounds of grass with 1-2 pounds of flowers to cover a large area. Again, this is totally up to your preference and needs!

Planting your seed

When its time to plant you should lay down your grass seed first if you are planning to do that. A tip that we recommend using is mixing your wildflowers with mason sand in a mixer. The point of doing that is to mark where you have seeded already and it also ensures a more even spread. 

Ready to get started? 

If you're ready to plant your seeds you can start by ordering from a trusted and reputable seed dealer.  Luckily, you are already in the right place!

Rohrer Seeds is a 4th generation family owned business that has been located in the heart of Lancaster county, Pennsylvania since its beginning in 1919. 

To receive a FREE Rohrer Seeds catalog in the mail please click here. When you're ready to order simply come back to our website, pick up the phone, or visit our store on Old Philadelphia Pike in Lancaster, PA!