FAQs
Do you ship internationally?
Due to seed import restrictions we cannot ship our seeds to most countries outside the U.S.
What’s your return policy?
At Sweet Yards we want to give you the biggest bloom for your buck. That’s why we’re proud to offer you the freshest seeds in quantities that work for you as well as any additional education or support you need along the way.
We're so confident that you'll have success with our seeds that we guarantee they’ll germinate or we'll give you a full refund within 30 days of purchase, no questions asked.
When will my order ship?
All orders are Expedited and will arrive within 2-3 days of ordering.
How do I track my package after it has been shipped?
Once your order is shipped, you will receive a Shipment Confirmation email with a tracking confirmation. Use this number to track your package.
How long are a packet of seeds good for?
If stored properly, wildflower seeds can last for years, even decades! Seeds keep best stored in a cool and dark place. We package all of our wildflower seeds in resealable foil lined bags to protect them from light and humidity in the air. Store our bags in a cool place, such as a closet or basement, and they will be viable for years to come.
How much area does a packet of seeds cover?
Planting the right amount of seeds in a given area is very important. Plant the seeds too heavily and they will compete with each other food water, light and nutrition. Plant them too sparsely and you leave room for weeds to come up in patches of your garden. A proper planting rate is about 1 ounce per 100 square feet. Multiply the width of your planting area by the length to get it’s square footage. A planting area 20 feet long and three 3 wide is 60 square feet (20 feet x 3 feet = 60 square feet) a would require a little over half of a one ounce packet of seeds.
Can I just sprinkle the seeds on the ground, or do I need to prepare the soil?
In nature, wildflower seeds simply fall to ground from flowers above and later sprout to life. So you can absolutely mimic this in your garden. Though, we recommend putting in a little more work at this point to have a more successful garden. At a minimum, tear up the weeds are grass, and soften the top couple inches of soil with a hard rake. A smooth raked out soil surface free of debris makes for a fine seedbed and a good starting point for your seeds.
Is it too late/early in the year to plant these seeds? What’s the best time of year to plant them?
Depending on where you live, nearly any time of year can be perfect for wildflower seeds. In areas with a very mild winter and no killing frosts you can plant your seeds almost any time of year, just avoid the hottest and driest months of summer which can be too harsh for young seedlings.
In all other areas of the country that have below freezing temperatures in the winter, you can plant in the Spring after your last frost and all year into the following Fall. Seeds planted in the early Spring will give you blooms all year long, while those planted at the end of Fall will begin to grow early the next Spring. Try out planting at different times of the year to see what works best in your climate.
How long does it take for the seeds to grow?
You should see your seeds begin to sprout up out of the soil about one week after planting, though it can take up to three weeks. After the majority of your seeds have sprouted and established themselves as small seedlings, you will begin to see your first blooms about 6-9 weeks later.
How do I keep my wildflowers blooming?
Our seed mixtures contain a large mixture of seeds to ensure a successful and diverse wildflower garden. Each type of wildflower will have its own growth rate. After the first sets of blooms you’ll notice new and different types of flowers beginning to take over. To keep this train of blooms rolling you should do two things. First, keep the soil moist to encourage the plants to continue making new flowers. Second, cut off the dead or dying flowers to encourage the plants to replace them.
Can I cut my wildflowers and make bouquets?
Absolutely! This is one of the joys of growing your own wildflowers, bringing them into your home! The majority of the flowers in our seed mixtures do well as cut flowers, except for the poppies. Though they are very beautiful in a kitchen table vase, they will unfortunately only last for a day or two. Cutting your wildflowers to bring indoors will also encourage your plants to grow additional flowers.
How do I know what are weeds and what are wildflowers?
When planting a whole wildflower garden from seeds it can be so difficult to tell the weeds from the flowers, especially at the seedling stage. If you are planting in small area there are a few tricks that will help you out. Plant your wildflower seeds in straight lines, or small circles around the seed bed. This way you know that whatever is growing outside of your lines or circles is not a wildflower, and can be removed at a young age.
Once your wildflowers have grown larger it will become easier to distinguish them from the weeds. Many gardeners like to allow some grasses to grow alongside their wildflowers, though if there are any weeds or grasses present that you don’t want, make sure to remove them before they have the chance to set seeds.
Will my wildflowers come back next year?
Most of our wildflower seed mixtures contain perennials as well as annuals (except for our All-Annual Quick Blooming Mix). The annual wildflowers will sprout, grow and bloom all in one season, while the perennials will sprout and grow the first season, and bloom in the following season. All of our wildflowers are open pollinated, meaning that when they are pollinated they will develop viable seeds that can be collected and planted next year, or just allow to drop onto the soil to sprout up the following spring.
If you want your wildflowers to return next year it’s important to allow the seeds to develop. At the end of the year don’t cut back or mow the meadow too early. You want the dead flowers to fully develop their seed pods. You should see dried seed pods atop the plants that are beginning to split open and drop out seeds for next year.
I can’t find the answers to my questions, how do I reach customer service?
Simply email us at hello@sweetyardsco.com and we’ll help you out.