How many seeds per square foot should I plant?

Choose a seeding rate that will be adequate to accomplish the goal of your native planting. At a minimum the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service recommends a seeding rate of 40 seeds per square foot. Allendan Seed mixes a majority of its inventory mixes at 40 seeds per square foot to meet their basic CRP requirement. We offer a few forb only inventory mixes under 40 seeds per square foot so they can be used to inter-seed into already established prairies. We offer some inventory mixes at 50 seeds per square foot for more diverse pollinator seed mixes, and we offer some specialty mixes at 60 seeds per square foot for smaller areas.

When broadcasting seed, it is recommended to use a minimum 60 seeds per square foot seeding rate to compensate for any uneven distribution or seed loss due to weather elements or predation. If your budget allows and you would like your native planting to get established quicker and fuller, we recommend using a seeding rate of 80 - 120 seeds per square foot in smaller areas. If your native planting is for erosion control or on a steep slope, we recommend using a seeding rate of 100 - 120 seeds per square foot.

As an example, if you have 1 acre of land and you wanted a seeding rate of 80 seeds per square foot, purchase 2 acres worth of a 40 seeds per square foot seed mix and plant it all in the 1 acre area. If you wanted to achieve a 120 seeds per square foot seeding rate, purchase 3 acres worth of a 40 seeds per square foot seed mix and plant it all in the 1 acre area.