Sowing seeds in the traditional manner is often the preferred approach because it helps each seed achieve its fullest potential and minimises wastage, however it’s not the only way you can sow seeds.
Scatter sowing is an easier alternative to the traditional approach which is often time-consuming and labour-intensive. It can produce some great results, along with a different look in your garden, while being easier on your body, so read on to find out more about this convenient and time-saving alternative approach.
What Is Scatter Sowing?
Scatter sowing is exactly what it sounds like: Instead of sowing seeds directly into little holes or long drills you create for them, you prepare the soil as usual and scatter the seeds by hand over the area in a relatively random fashion, allowing them to germinate and grow where they fall.
The term ‘broadcasting’ is also used for this method of sowing seeds, and is the method used by farmers and landscapers when planting some crops or seeding lawns. Farmers and landscapers are often dealing with much larger quantities of seed, so they tend to use mechanical devices or machines to spread the seed evenly.
The scatter-sowing method is the ideal way to achieve a meadow effect when planting flowers. It can give a more natural look to a herb or vegetable garden which is ideal if you wish to avoid the usual regimented rows and utilitarian look but still have a productive garden.
Whether the seed is spread by hand or machine, the general principle is the same.
How to Scatter Sow: A Step-by-Step Guide
Scatter sowing may be a simple technique, but you still need to approach it in the proper manner to achieve the kind of results you want. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Start the process at the right time. No matter how you intend to sow seeds, you have to do so at the appropriate time to get the best results (our sowing chart makes this part super easy!)
- Prepare the soil. Start by weeding the area to eliminate as much competition as possible, then cultivate the soil lightly to reduce compaction and aerate the soil. Break up any large clumps and remove any large stones or sticks. Add compost or organic matter if necessary.
- Prepare the surface. Rake the soil until it has a fine, crumbly texture, with a flat surface. This helps provide better seed-to-soil contact and improves germination rates.
- Scatter the seed. Take a handful of seeds and scatter them evenly across the prepared soil. Aim for a consistent distribution without clumping too many seeds in one spot. Optional: Adding some washed dry sand to the seeds will help you scatter small seeds more evenly over the prepared soil. A 50/50 mix of seeds and sand is a good ratio. Small seeds can also be placed in a clean salt shaker. When scattering, move your hand across the area in different directions to get good coverage.
- Lightly rake over the area. This will help cover the seeds slightly, and may also help break up any seeds that have clumped together, further ensuring an even distribution.
- Water the area. Watering the soil helps the newly sown seeds to settle in. Use a watering can to gently water the area or use a garden hose with a fine spray. Take care if using a garden hose as the water pressure may be enough to wash tiny seeds away or cause them to clump.
Aftercare and Thinning the Seedlings
Check every few days to ensure newly emerging seedlings aren’t drying out and water them if required.
Remove weeds to avoid competition. Over the coming days and weeks, monitor the area for weeds and remove any you find. This helps ensure your new plants have all the resources they need to thrive.
You may find that scatter sowing is occasionally too effective, leaving you with more seedlings than the available space can support. When this happens, simply remove some of the weakest individuals to provide more space and reduce competition, and allow the strongest seedlings to thrive.
Which Flowers, Herbs, and Vegetables Can Be Scatter Sown?
Scatter sowing works really well for some species, but it isn’t suited for all flowers, herbs, and vegetables. It’s a good method for plants that grow best when directly sown but it isn’t appropriate for plants that need more care during the germination stage and need to be started in seed trays.
Flowers that work well for scatter sowing:
- Alyssum
- Billy Buttons
- Brachyscome
- Calendula
- Cornflower
- Cosmos
- Everlasting Daisy
- Marigold
- Nasturtium
- Nigella
- Poppy
- Snapdragon
- Stock
Herbs that work well for scatter sowing:
Vegetables that work well for scatter sowing:
- Bunching Onion
- Carrot
- Corn Salad
- Endive
- Garland
- Leek
- Loose Leaf Lettuce
- Mizuna
- Radish
- Rocket
- Spinach
The Benefits and Drawbacks of Scatter Sowing
Like any technique or approach, scatter sowing has a number of benefits, but it also has some drawbacks. So, consider the following pros and cons before deciding whether or not this technique is right for you and your garden.
The Benefits of Scatter Sowing
- Scatter sowing is an easier and faster method than individually sowing seeds.
- If the seeds are spread evenly, you can maximise the number of plants that’ll grow in the space available.
- Scatter sowing helps avoid some of the problems that handling small seeds present.
- It doesn’t require any elaborate or specialised tools.
- It can create a more natural and aesthetically pleasing layout for a flower garden.
The Drawbacks of Scatter Sowing
- If you’re not careful, you may accidentally spread seeds outside the intended planting area.
- You can end up with more seedlings than you intended.
- You may not achieve the same kind of germination rate as you would sowing individual seeds.
- It often yields a “wild” appearance that isn’t always desirable.
- Some plants may be less productive if sown too close together (though this isn’t common among the seeds recommended above).
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Even though gardening is an enjoyable activity, it can entail quite a bit of work to get your plants to thrive; from sowing the seeds to providing sufficient water and nutrients, and then battling weeds and pests.
So, consider scatter sowing your next batch of seeds instead of using the usual approach. It’s remarkably effective for some seeds, and not only will it save you time, it’s also a rather fun and different way of starting your flower garden or herb or vegetable patch.
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Scatter sowing seeds in a pot
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A mechanical spreader being used to scatter lawn seed
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Scatter-sown seed on the soil
Scatter sown meadow garden
