By Sally McCabe, Associate Director of Community Education 

Gardening is usually about control. Control the weeds. Control the soil. Control what we grow, how we grow it, and when we plant it. But every once in a while, it’s nice to take a break from all of that, and that’s where chaos gardening comes in. 

My garden is always chaotic. Not by design, but, well… life happens. Embracing chaos gardening means letting go of the guilt, planning, and the intentionality of it all. You toss in the seeds, step back, and let nature sort it out. It’s every plant for itself. If you don’t feel like watering, don’t. If weeding isn’t on the agenda, skip it. And if your neighbor peers over the fence in confusion, just smile and say, “It’s meant to be that way.” 

What Is Chaos Gardening? 

It sounds like it should be easy; just toss seeds and jump back. Well, guess again.  

Randomly throwing seeds onto a plot of land and walking away just means you've laid out a smorgasbord for the birds, mice, and squirrels. Chaos gardening is a low-maintenance gardening approach that invites nature to take the lead. Think of it as a wildflower garden with fewer rules and more surprises. You mix together a variety of seeds: annuals, perennials, herbs, veggies, whatever you've got—and scatter them across a prepared plot. Some thrive, others don't. It's messy, unpredictable, and absolutely magical. 

How to Start a Chaos Garden 

Here are some suggestions to make chaos gardening a little less of a free-for-all: 

1.  Prep the soil: Roughen up the soil surface, pull out the obvious weeds, and mark out your borders before planting your seeds. 
2. Scatter seeds strategically: Broadcast larger seeds first to get a more even spread, then fill in with the smaller ones. Don’t try to do this on a windy day! 
3. Cover lightly: Cover seeds with a light layer of compost.
4. Water or wait: Give the garden a good soak, or let nature take the wheel and wait for rain. 

Challenges of Chaos Gardening 

While chaos gardens are beautiful, it can be hard to predict what will grow where and how much. This unpredictability can be frustrating for gardeners who are accustomed to having a lot of control over their space.

Chaos gardens require less maintenance than traditional gardens, but they still need some! To avoid unwanted pests or invasive plants, you’ll have to intervene and do some light maintenance, which could be a deterrent to some. 

Best Plants for Chaos Gardens 

Want your chaos garden to flourish? Choose plants that play well with a little anarchy: 

• Self-seeding plants: These plants readily reproduce on their own, adding to the wild and ever-changing look of the garden. Examples include poppies, foxgloves, and borage. 
• Pollinator plants: These flowering plants attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. They come in a wide variety and most work well in a chaos garden. Try bee balm, coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, milkweed, and yarrow for a mix of colors and textures. 
• Hardy herbs and veggies: These plants not only add beauty but can also be used for cooking or teas. Mint, oregano, and chives are all good options. 

Chaos Gardening Tips for Success 

• Start small: Don't overwhelm yourself by converting your entire yard at once. Begin with a dedicated area and let it expand naturally. 
• Mulch strategically: A layer of mulch helps suppress weeds, retain moisture, and add nutrients to the soil. This is especially helpful in a chaos garden where plants compete for resources. 
• Observe and adapt: Pay attention to how your plants grow and adjust as needed. You may need to remove some plants to make space for others. The second year is a whole new adventure as plants naturalize, returning or reseeding, fighting for dominance. You might find yourself pulling out the less desirable species and adding more annual seeds. 
• Create visual order: If things get out of hand and neighbors start to complain, mow and mulch the edges and a path through it to make it look more intentional.  We call this the “Chaos-in-a-Box" technique. 
• Make it a family affair: Invite the kids in! Randomly emptying and dumping seed packets is a fantastic activity for the younger generation. Seeing what comes up and succeeds (or doesn’t) turns it into a giant science project that also has lots of room for whimsy as plants sprawl, climb, and fall over each other in one big horticultural jumble. 

Why Try Chaos Gardening? 

At its core, chaos gardening is a joyful rebellion against the pressure to do everything “right.” It’s about letting go, playing with possibilities, and reconnecting with the natural rhythms of the garden. Whether you're short on time, space, or energy, or just want to try something different, chaos gardening offers a beautiful and unexpected path forward. 

So go ahead. Dump those seed packets, water when you feel like it, and let your garden go a little wild.