How to Make Seed Bombs - Easy DIY for Kids & Pollinators

How To Make Seed Bombs

If you want to grow more wildflowers and help pollinators thrive, seed bombs are a fun, easy way to add colour to your garden (or any little patch of soil), and they’re a perfect project for kids over the school holidays.

In this post, we’ll show you how to make seed bombs step-by-step, what they are and why they’re such a great way to support bees, butterflies and other wildlife.

What is a seed bomb?

A seed bomb is a small ball made from soil/compost, wildflower seeds and a binding material like clay or flour. Once dried, you can throw them onto bare ground, and as the weather breaks down the soil, the seeds inside start to grow. The soil or compost they’re in gives the seeds a head start, so even if they land on pretty barren ground, they have their own source of nutrition!

Seed bombs have their roots in ancient farming techniques and were later used in guerrilla gardening to bring life to neglected urban spaces. They’re a brilliant way to plant wildflowers, especially in spots that are tricky to reach or in areas where you can’t dig.

Seed bombs recipe: What you’ll need

Making seed bombs at home is simple. Here’s what you need:

• 1 part wildflower seeds
• 3 parts peat-free compost or garden soil
• 5 parts flour or powdered clay (to help hold it all together)
• A little water
• A bowl to mix them in
• A tray to dry them on

You can easily scale this recipe up or down depending on how many seed bombs you want to make. This recipe typically makes around 8 to 12 walnut-sized seed bombs.

How to make seed bombs

1. Mix the ingredients
   In a large bowl, combine your seeds, compost and flour (or clay). Stir until the seeds are evenly distributed.
2. Add water slowly
   Drizzle a little water into the mix and stir. Keep adding small amounts until the mixture sticks together like dough. Be careful not to overdo it; it'll get too wet and become hard to shape.
3. Roll into balls
   Take small amounts of the mixture and roll them into balls, about the size of a walnut.
4. Let them dry
   Place your seed bombs on a tray or baking sheet and leave them to dry for 24–48 hours somewhere warm. Once dry, they’re ready to throw or store.
5. Throw and watch them grow!
   Throw your seed bombs into bare patches of soil and let nature take over. Rain will help break down the outer layer and set the seeds growing.

How to make seed bombs with paper

If you don’t have compost or clay handy, you can make seed bombs using paper!

Here’s how:

1. Tear up old newspapers or scrap paper into small pieces.
2. Soak the paper in warm water for about 30 minutes.
3. Mash the paper and water into a pulp.
4. Stir in your wildflower seeds.
5. Form small balls or press the pulp into moulds.
6. Let them dry completely before planting or tossing.
7. If your mix doesn’t stick together, try adding a bit of flour after step 4 to help things bind.

These paper seed bombs are lightweight, biodegradable and a brilliant, eco-friendly craft.

Where to use seed bombs

Before you start chucking seed bombs around, it’s important to be mindful of where you use them. While seed bombs are a great tool for planting wildflowers, they should never be thrown into private land or public spaces without permission. Unintended planting can disrupt local ecosystems or introduce species where they’re not wanted. Always check first and stick to areas where you have control or consent to sow. Here’s our recommendations:

• Bare patches in your garden
• Wild corners of your allotment
• Containers or window boxes
• Suitable green spaces such as a school wildlife garden (with permission!)

Seed bombs are especially good for pollinator patches – small areas planted to attract bees and butterflies.

How to plant a seed bomb

Planting seed bombs is as easy as throwing them onto bare soil; no digging or covering is needed. They’re designed to break down naturally with rain and sun. And because the seeds are already mixed with soil, they’re protected from sudden temperature drops and from being eaten by birds and other wildlife, giving them a better chance to germinate and grow for the pollinators.

For best results, aim for an open sunny spot where there’s not too much competing grass.

Why seed bombs are great for bees and butterflies

Wildflowers are a vital food source for pollinators, but they’re often the first thing to disappear from manicured gardens and urban spaces.

By making and scattering seed bombs, you’re giving bees, butterflies and other insects more places to feed and thrive. It’s a small, but hugely valuable way to make a difference.

Ready to get started?

Now that you know how to make seed bombs, why not get the kids involved as a school holiday or science project? Use pollinator-friendly seeds from our Pronto Seed collection, and your garden will be buzzing with life all summer long.

For more wildflower tips and bee-friendly gardening ideas, head over to our Planting for Bees and Butterflies blog post.