I know the Grumpy Gardener would not approve, but for years, my method of gardening has been to scatter a bunch of seeds in the ground and be pleasantly surprised by whatever pops up. Other than regular watering, it’s the survival of the fittest in my yard. This “technique” (I can picture Grumpy shaking his head) adds an element of surprise to my life every spring and summer. 

I never know what’s going to take root—one year, I had a major parsley harvest although I did not plant any parsley seeds. Best case scenario, I end up with a mixed-up meadow of zinnias, cosmos, coneflowers, and other pollinators. But more often than not, my efforts (or lack thereof) result in clumps of plants in some areas, and bare sections in others. I rarely have enough blooms at the same time to fill a vase.

What Is Seed Tape?

My haphazard little garden brings me joy, but this year, I’m trying to be a bit more orderly in the hope that I might grow more flowers. In addition to my usual packets of loose seeds, I bought some Burpee seed tape. The package contained a roll of very thin paper that has seeds embedded in it. (Unlike regular adhesive tape, there is nothing sticky.) You plant the paper right in the soil and keep it moist so that the seeds can sprout. It took less than 10 minutes for me to plant six rows. 

What Are The Benefits Of Using Seed Tape?

Instead of sowing seeds by hand, seed tape does the work of distributing them into evenly spaced rows, which prevents bald spots in your garden. It also ensures that too many seeds aren’t planted in the same hole—a common problem with very small seeds or wildflower mixes. If multiple plants sprout up right next to each other, it can lead to nutrient depletion and less growth.

Time will tell whether seed tape can transform my garden, but I already have a few promising (neat!) rows of sprouts to show for it.