Should You Try Chaos Gardening? An Expert Shares Their Take

We’re always excited to learn about trendy gardening styles and techniques, and recently, one piqued my interest. With a name like “chaos gardening,” how can you not be instantly curious?

While my mind went straight to digging random holes and recklessly tossing in plants, I was also fairly certain there was more to it than that. Before I started telling everyone about this latest gardening craze, I decided to turn to a few experts to ask for their expertise.

Should you be chaos gardening? Here’s what experts had to say.

What is Chaos Gardening?

In the simplest terms, Russell Taylor, the VP of Live Earth, says chaos gardening is all about embracing the beauty of unplanned growth. This method involves scattering a diverse mix of seeds without a predetermined layout, allowing the garden to evolve organically.

When gardening this way, you’re guaranteed a space with a unique and dynamic assortment of plants. 

“The garden becomes a canvas of spontaneity, where different species emerge and flourish in an unplanned display of colors and textures,” Taylor says.

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Ditch Perfection and Toss Away 

According to Teri Valenzuela, the natural science manager at Sunday, chaos gardening is also a push toward a less perfectly manicured backyard. 

“It embraces letting seeds or plants grow wherever they may, essentially letting nature take over,” she says.

This is where I was delighted to learn my interpretation wasn’t too far off! The process involves casually tossing seeds—flowers, veggies, or other plants—and seeing what thrives with minimal intervention.

Why You Should Start Chaos Gardening

If you have pets or children, a patch of nicely manicured lawn might be a necessity. But if you’re looking to turn your garden beds into something wild and stunning, Valenzuela says chaos gardening has worked perfectly for her when creating what she calls “a pocket prairie.”

“I began with a few plant plugs, then scattered seeds across the area,” she says. “Now, the prairie reseeds itself annually.”

This space requires minimal maintenance in spring and fall, which Valenzuela says aligns perfectly with her low-effort gardening style. But, it’s important to remember that the chaotic part of this method comes down to tossing the seeds—but you can still make some plans. 

For example, Taylor suggests avoiding plants with aggressive growth traits. These could monopolize the garden or reseed readily and spread beyond your garden.

It Pairs Well With Companion Planting

If you’re not sure you can stand such a high level of chaos, Valenzuela suggests pairing chaos gardening with another method called companion planting. 

It introduces a degree of order to the randomness. When companion planting, you plant specific species that are complementary while still allowing your seeds to fall naturally. 

“Plants grow in a somewhat controlled yet spontaneous way,” Valenzuela says. “It’s a blend of order and chaos that can yield great results.” 

It’s Great for Sustainability

As Cate Singleton, Tilly’s director of design, points out, chaos gardening is a great way to promote sustainability in our home gardens. One reason is that it creates instant habitats for our wildlife.

“Chaos gardening is about bringing a more natural and native integration into designing outdoor spaces,” she says. 

Expert’s Best Tip for Chaos Gardening

To truly succeed at chaos gardening, Taylor says a broad variety of seeds is a must-have. This will increase your garden’s diversity—annual seeds are an excellent place to start. 

“Adapting to and learning from the garden as it develops is essential,” Taylor says. “You might have a successful planting and may need to thin plants to avoid crowding, especially for vegetables.” 

This requires a flexible attitude as you embrace the unexpected evolution of your garden. And Taylor also says to mix in some vegetables and herbs, too.