Make your own seed balls

Seed balls are a simple, hands-on way to support pollinators while adding a bit of creativity to your gardening. They’re made by combining wildflower seeds with clay and a small amount of compost, then shaping the mixture into balls (or any form you like) that can be scattered onto bare soil in sunny spots.

One of the big advantages of seed balls is that they give seeds a better chance of survival. The clay casing helps protect them from being eaten by birds or insects, while the compost provides a small boost of nutrients as they begin to germinate.

While you can buy ready-made seed balls from garden centres and gift shops, making your own is easy and much more personal. The most important thing is choosing a good-quality mix of native, pollinator-friendly seeds, ideally including both annuals and perennials for longer-lasting impact.

What you'll need:

Pollinator-friendly wildflower seeds
Air-drying clay
Fine compost
Optional: chilli powder (to help deter pests)

Helpful extras:

A teaspoon
Gloves
Newspaper or a protective surface

How to make them:

Start by protecting your workspace with newspaper or similar. Take small pieces of clay and roll them into balls, then press them into flat discs around 3–6 cm wide. Make a batch to work with — you likely won’t need all your clay at once.

Place a small spoonful of compost in the centre of each disc, then sprinkle over a generous pinch of seeds.

If you’d like, add a little chilli powder at this stage to help discourage slugs and snails.

Carefully fold the clay around the filling and roll it back into a ball. It might take a couple of tries to get the balance right between clay and filling, it’s easy to overfill at first.

Once shaped, leave your seed balls out to dry on the newspaper for at least 24 hours. When fully dry, they can be stored until you’re ready to use them.

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