Seeds, Alternative Lawn Blend (West Coast Seeds)

Use Alternative Lawn Mix wildflower seeds as an alternative to lawn. It forms a low-growing, dense ground cover composed of fine fescues, flowers, and clover species, and provides a colourful and less demanding alternative to traditional grass lawns. This incredibly beautiful blend contains thirteen species that will fill in spaces fairly rapidly and return to bloom from year to year. It stays low growing like a carpet of colour, and attracts beneficial insects and butterflies over a very long bloom period.

Exposure Full-sun to partial shade, depending on the blend

Recommended rate of application: 115g per 1,000 square feet. Hardy to Zone 4.

Timing
Try to direct sow wildflower seeds during the period two weeks before, and eight weeks after, your last average frost date. Sowing when there is some risk of minor frost may improve germination. Wildflower seeds can also be sown in the autumn, but a certain percentage of seeds to may be lost to water, birds, and animals. To make the most of the annual species, direct sow in early spring.

Starting
Site Selection: If there are already no plants (including weeds) growing in the planting site, there may be a problem with the soil. Possible issues may be soil fertility, lack of drainage, or the need for soil amendments to improve texture. In such spots (eg, beneath a cedar tree), few plants will thrive, including wildflowers.

Seed Application:
In small areas, seeds can be scattered by hand. In larger areas, you may want to employ a lawn spreader or some other mechanical means. We recommend adding 1-2 parts clean, dry sand to 1 part wildflower seeds which will help the seeds spread evenly. Do not use beach sand, as it usually contains salt. It may be wise to spread most of the seed, but to save some for filling in bald spots at a later date. Seeds must come into contact with the soil in order to germinate. Do not bury seeds more than 2-3 times their thickness.