FAQ's

What is a Flawn?

A Flawn or flowering lawn is simply a normal grass lawn with low growing wildflowers added to it. You can seed in spring, summer, fall, or even in winter over a fresh snowfall. The different varieties of wildflowers in Flawn Seed Kits will grow in with your grass over the next 6-24 months to create a ratio of about half grass and half low-growing wildflowers.

The amount of time it takes for the different varieties of Flawn Seeds to flower will depend on a few things. Certain varieties like Crimson Clover or Dutch White Clover may flower within one growing season, Self-Heal usually will begin to flower in the second growing season, and Creeping Thyme usually will begin to flower in the third growing season. Other factors such as climate, soil, moisture, and light conditions will have effects on how long it is before you see flowers. Most of our varieties will bloom more in sunny areas.

Can I add more flower varieties to a Flawn Seed Kit?

Absolutely! Simply add any additional varieties to your cart along with the Flawn Seed Kit and they will ship with your order.

What if I already have weeds like Crabgrass and Creeping Charlie?

The different low growing wildflowers in Flawn Seed Kits will be able to grow in the same environments that the weeds grow in and as soon as your Flawn starts to become established you will notice the weeds less. Dutch White Clover has the same growth habit and prefers the same environmental conditions that Creeping Charlie does so they will grow well together. Creeping Charlie, although aggressive in growth habit, is still beneficial for pollinators. As the Flawn becomes fully established it will be able to prevent annual weeds such as crabgrass and yellow nutsedge.

How does a Flawn save me money?

The white clover included in all Flawn Seed Kits provides nitrogen (what’s in fertilizer) for the other plants like the grass and other flowers. This reduces the need to add any additional fertilizer that a grass lawn normally requires each year. By adding broadleaf flowers to a grass lawn, you shade and cool the soil surface reducing the need for irrigation almost completely. Also, by adding low growing wildflowers to your lawn and not fertilizing you reduce the growth rate of the grass resulting in much less need for mowing throughout the year. All together a Flawn will save an average of $1,700 per year according to Home Advisor.

Will a Flawn grow in shade?

Flawn Seed Kits are designed to grow in full sun to shade. Dutch White Clover and Micro Clover tolerate shade the best out of the varieties in the Flawn Seed Kits. Self-Heal or "Heal-All" prefers part shade but will grow just fine in sunny spots too. Creeping Thyme will grow in partial shade but will flower more in full sun. If you want to ensure a successful and full density Flawn it is recommended to limb up trees about 8 ft all the way around and it is best if you have a 40-45 degree angle from the lowest branch to the sky so any limbs growing on the underside of the lowest branches should be removed to allow sunlight closer to the base of the tree. To increase the success rate of plantings under trees it is also a good idea to thin the canopy removing redundant branching especially any crossing branches that are rubbing. 

Will my Flawn spread into my neighbors lawn?

Not likely. If your neighbors apply weed killers either themselves or have a company come then there will still be a very distinct line between the two. If they do not use any weed control then it will look like a wavy line as the Flawn species may slightly trickle over into the grass but if they fertilize their grass it will out-compete the wildflowers and stay just a grass lawn. It's best to let your neighbors know that you are converting to a flowering lawn and the benefits of doing so. This may help them ditch the chemicals!

Does it matter what type of soil I have?

Flawn Seed Kits are designed to grow in most any soil type of from sandy to silty to loamy and even in clay! These little wildflowers are tough. Creeping Thyme prefers sandy soil over clay so if you have heavy clay soil it will still grow but be slower to establish and less vigorous. If you have poor soil and want to improve it we recommend incorporating compost into the topsoil layer at the time of seeding to act as a soil enhancer and starter fertilizer for your Flawn. If your grass is thin and you know it is due to poor soil it is recommended to buy the next size up Flawn Seed Kit and spread the seed more heavily to create a thicker Flawn.

What if my soil is acidic or alkaline?

Most likely it will not be a problem. The varieties included in the Flawn Seed Kits are tolerant of acidic soils and will grow just fine in alkaline soils as well. If you want to create the best soil environment for your grass to grow in though you should have your soil tested for pH and organic matter percentage and add amendments to adjust the pH to 6.5-7 and the organic matter to 3-5%.

How do I install a Flawn?

It’s super easy. If it’s spring summer or fall, simply mow your lawn as short as possible, lightly rake to loosen the soil, then spread Flawn Seed throughout your lawn. If it’s winter and the ground is frozen, simply spread Flawn Seed over a fresh snowfall on a calm day. Make sure to go slow and cover the entire area you want to seed. If you end up spreading all the seed in a smaller area than intended, no worries! You'll just have more flowers! Detailed instructions are included on all Flawn Seed Pouches and Kits.

How do I maintain my Flawn?

Watering: It is very important to water regularly during the first few weeks if it doesn't rain and if a drought occurs in the first season. Once established, a Flawn only needs to be watered during extended dry periods and droughts.

Mowing: It is best to continue mowing at 2.5-3.5" for the first season to allow the Flawn Seeds to germinate and grow in. Once established, it is up to you what height you keep your Flawn (be sure to check local ordinances for height restrictions). Once your Flawn is fully established it is recommended to let it grow up to 6" and then mow it to 4" which will have you mowing about every 3-4 weeks and about 6-10 times per year. Mowing on the highest setting is recommended at least a few times per year to prevent any one variety from overtaking the others.

Fertilizer and Weed Killers: No starter fertilizer or subsequent fertilizing is required to grow a successful Flawn. If you have extremely sandy soil or heavy clay soil you could add compost (granulated is easiest) at the time of seeding to improve the growing conditions for the grass but it is not required. Do not apply any weed killers as they would kill the Flawn species. A weed popper tool can be used to remove any invasive or noxious weeds (See "What if I already have weeds like Crabgrass and Creeping Charlie?" for more information about weeds in Flawns).

Flawn Seed Pouches and Kits come in a variety of sizes so we got you covered wether you have a town home with a small yard or an acre in the suburbs. If you are not sure of the size of your yard you can request a free measurement. If you need a larger size than we offer you can simply order additional quantities of any of the sizes we have.