Chaos Gardening Is About Embracing a Wild, Untamed Look—Here's How to Do It

Some gardens are planned down to the inch; others are carefully laid out to look wild and untamed. But if your approach to gardening is less about controlling the final product and more about letting Mother Nature do her best, then chaos gardening may be for you. This low-pressure, no-stress approach allows you to prepare and plant a garden bed in less time than it takes to drive to the garden center.

Using seeds left over from previous years (or a new-this-season stash), you can create a unique landscape design that delivers pretty surprises with each plant that pops up.

What Is Chaos Gardening?

Chaos gardening is a planting technique that's intentionally random. Instead of creating carefully drawn plots and organizing your layout by plant type, you mix a variety of seeds into the same bed and see what happens. It's a fuss-free approach that makes gardening accessible to new hobbyists and adds a novel aspect for experienced growers.

"Without the need for exact planning, spacing, or row arrangements, this method reduces the stress that can come with traditional gardening," says Carrie Spoonemore, co-creator of Park Seed's From Seed to Spoon app. "Additionally, the unexpected growth of plants in different spots adds an element of surprise and delight to the garden."

Relaxing the process of planning and planting is one of the biggest benefits of the technique, says Sally McCabe, associate director of community education at the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. "Gardening is all about control—control the weeds, control the soil. Control what we grow, where we grow it, how we grow it, when we plant it," she says. "Every once in a while, it's nice to take a break from all of that."

How to Create a Chaos Garden

While simply scattering handfuls of seeds satisfies the idea of chaos gardening, it isn't likely to yield the best results, says McCabe. "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," she says. Improve the success of your garden with a few simple preparatory steps.

Step 1: Gather Your Seeds

The fun of chaos gardening is in not knowing exactly what you're planting where, so commingling seeds is encouraged. "Chaos gardening promotes biodiversity: Mixing various types of seeds—flowers, vegetables, and herbs—encourages a diverse ecosystem that benefits pollinators and aids in pest control," says Spoonemore.

Step 2: Sort Your Seeds

Organize your seeds for planting by dividing them by size—larger seeds in one container, smaller ones in a second. You can soak older seeds to test their viability (though this is optional—remember, chaos gardening is low-effort!). "Seeds that sink are typically viable, while those that float may not be," says Spoonemore. "Some seeds benefit from soaking overnight to speed up germination. However, this is not necessary for all seeds, and gardeners should follow specific guidelines for each plant type."

Step 3: Prepare Your Planting Bed

Give your plants some assistance by preparing the soil. "Roughen up the soil surface, pull out the obvious weeds, and mark out your borders before planting your seeds," says McCabe.

Step 4: Plant the Seeds

After loosening the soil, spread a layer of your larger seeds across the bed. "Planting larger seeds first, followed by smaller ones, can ensure that smaller seeds are not overshadowed or buried too deeply by larger seeds," says Spoonemore. "This can help give all seeds a fair chance to germinate." Scatter smaller seeds over the larger ones (don’t try to do this on a windy day, says McCabe) then add a layer of compost or soil, followed by watering. "Keep the soil consistently moist, specifically during the initial germination period," says Spoonemore. "Be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to rot."

The Best Plants for a Chaos Garden

The best plants for your chaos garden are the ones that thrive in your climate and are suited to your planting bed, whether this means a mix of full-sun flowers, shade-loving foliage, or pest-preventing vegetables. However, different types of plants offer a variety of benefits to a chaos garden, says McCabe.

• Self-seeders: "These plants readily reproduce on their own, adding to the wild and ever-changing look of the garden," she says. "Examples include poppies, foxgloves, and borage."
• Pollinators: "These flowering plants attract butterflies, bees, and other beneficial insects. They come in a wide variety and most work well in a chaos garden," says McCabe.
• Herbs and vegetables: "These plants not only add beauty but can also be used for cooking or teas," says McCabe. "Mint, oregano, and chives are all good options." 

Tips for Growing a Successful Chaos Garden

Ready to start your chaos garden? Keep these tips in mind.

Anticipate the Maintenance

While chaos gardens require less forethought than more intentional layouts, they do need a similar level of maintenance once your plants start germinating. "As plants grow, selectively weed out unwanted plants to reduce competition, [and] thin out overcrowded areas to give remaining plants room to grow," says Spoonemore. "Keep an eye out for pests and diseases: The diverse planting can help deter some pests, but addressing any issues promptly is essential."

Include the Kids

Whether you're encouraging toddlers to get their hands dirty or teens to put down their phones, the simplicity and anticipation inherent in chaos gardening can foster a deep love of nature. "Randomly emptying and dumping seed packets is a fantastic activity for the younger generation," says McCabe. "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 and climb and fall over each other in one big horticultural jumble."

Let It Be

If you can't shake the need to control your garden—maybe you count on cooking with your homegrown vegetables or pride yourself on your flawless flower beds—then chaos gardening may not be the right approach for you. "While chaos gardens are beautiful, it can be hard to predict what will grow where and how much," says McCabe. "This unpredictability can be frustrating for gardeners who are accustomed to having a lot of control over their space. The second year is a whole new adventure as plants naturalize, returning or reseeding, fighting for dominance."

Embrace this uncertainty to get the biggest benefit from your chaos garden.  "The lack of control can lead to unpredictable results," says Spoonemore. "Be prepared for a less controlled and more unpredictable gardening experience, enjoy the process, and learn from the results each season."