Is there anything more cheerful than a sunflower? These tall, sturdy plants are a favorite of many gardeners, and they’re not just for flower gardens. Sunflowers can also be planted on your lawn! Not only do they add color and beauty to your landscape, but they also provide some great benefits.
Where do you put them? Ideally, the sunflowers should be in the area that receives the most light, but that’s not always possible. You might even have to put your sunflowers in the corner of an unused or hard-to-reach area. They would be a great addition to any yard, and you can grow them to cover a larger size.
In this article, you’ll learn all about sunflowers and how to plant them on your lawn. You’ll also find tips on caring for them and harvesting their seeds.
How To Plant Sunflower In Your Lawn
- Place your sunflower patch in a wind-protected, full-sun location, ideally along your lawn’s northern edge. Alternatively, choose a sunny spot where the plants will provide the slightest shade on the lawn. Shade is less of an issue if you only aim to produce a few specimens than if you wish to build a sunflower army.
- In the early spring, hoe the soil in the planting area to a depth of 24 inches. Add a couple of inches of compost to the mix. Apply slow-release, balanced fertilizer as directed on the label. It is necessary to hydrate the soil.
- Plant three to six sunflower seeds together at a depth of one to one and a half inches. The clusters should be spaced between 6 and 30 inches apart. Sunflowers that are planted closer together generate smaller heads than ones that are planted further apart. After you’ve finished planting, irrigate the seeds.
- Keep the soil moist by watering it frequently and removing any competing weeds as they appear. Feed the sunflower seeds with a water-soluble, balanced fertilizer once they sprout in approximately a week. Every two weeks, repeat the process for better results. Thin the plants as they grow, removing the weaker seedlings until each cluster has only one plant.
Tips in Caring Sunflower Plant
Follow the instructions below to give your sunflowers the attention and care they deserve:
- Stakes can be used to support tall sunflowers as they grow.
- Sunflowers should be fed monthly with a high potassium diet (tomato feed is ideal).
- During dry months, water regularly, especially the tall types, as they are difficult to recover if allowed to dry out and wilt.
- After the blooms have faded, leave the plant heads for the birds to enjoy – finches and sparrows are particularly fond of them.
- Pull the plants up in late autumn and compost them.
How to Harvest Sunflower Seeds
- Wait until the petals begin to fall to collect sunflower seeds. To keep the flowers safe from birds, you may need to cover them with nets.
- With a lengthy stalk, cut the blossoms off.
- Cover the flowerheads with paper bags and hang them to dry for a few weeks, somewhere warm and well-ventilated.
- Pull the seeds from the heads by hand once they have dried.
- Seeds should be kept in an airtight container for quality preservation.
When To Harvest Sunflower Seeds
Harvesting sunflowers is simple, but deciding when to harvest can be difficult for some gardeners. Picking them before the right time, the buds can contain a lot of seed pods but little flesh. Harvesting sunflowers too late will make them fragile to collect and too dry to roast.
Sunflowers are perfect to be harvested when their petals are dry and falling off. The head’s green base will eventually become yellow and brown as an ideal harvesting sign. Seeds will seem plump, with black seed coats or black and white stripes depending on the type. Cover the heads with thin netting or paper bags if you have a problem with animals or birds as soon as the petals start to wilt.
What month do you plant sunflower seeds?
Sunflower seeds can be planted from early March to mid-May, but this varies depending on the variety, so check the seed packet. The seeds will need to be protected until they’ve germinated and seedlings are roughly 5cm tall to give them the best start; it’s best to do this indoors to minimize frost damage.
Can sunflower seeds be planted directly in the ground?
Sunflower plants can be purchased as starting plants from a nursery or home improvement store, but it is easier to grow them from seed sown straight into the ground. If you produce sunflowers from seed, you’ll have access to more varieties. Sunflowers are also simple to grow from seed.
Are sunflowers easy to grow?
Sunflower plants are easy to grow since they are heat tolerant, insect resistant, and grow quickly. Because they’re native to North America, they can quickly adapt to various environments.
You can use them as cut flowers, leave them on the stem for an eye-catching outdoor display, or harvest and eat the seeds.
How Long Do Sunflowers Take To Bloom?
Most sunflower types mature around 80 to 95 days, making them a relatively fast-growing flower for their size. The tallest sunflower can reach over 16 feet, while smaller versions are designed for tiny spaces and containers and rarely grow taller than afoot! On the other hand, the flower heads can grow to be over 12 inches in diameter in large-seeded types.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, planting sunflowers on your lawn is a great way to improve the appearance of your yard while also providing a valuable service to the environment. By following the guidelines in this guide, you can ensure that your sunflowers grow and thrive, making your lawn look even better.
We hope you enjoyed our blog post on how to plant sunflowers on your lawn. We know that many people love the look of sunflowers on their lawn but don’t know where to start. We are here to help, though! With our blog post and the helpful tips included, you’ll be able to see the beautiful and functional transformation of your front lawn!
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