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Full sun: More than 6 hours of direct sun a day

Part shade: More than 2 or 3 hours but less than 6 hours of direct sun a day

Full shade: Less than 2 or 3 hours of direct sun a day

Dry: Water runs through after rainfall

Medium: Sometimes holds water but for short periods of time

Moist: Holds water for some time, mostly in spring, then dries

Wet: Stays damp all year.

Sand: Made of larger particles, drains water faster

Clay: Made of smaller particles, retains water and hardens when wet

Loam: Mix of sand and clay

Here is a helpful video from the SWCCNRM to help identify your soil. This article from Oregon State University can also help. 

Here is a list of additional information for other types of particular conditions:

• All-Star Native Plants for Boulevard Gardens, Blooming Boulevards
• Juglone (Walnut) Tolerant Native Plants, In Our Nature
• Native Groundcovers for Ontario Gardens, In Our Nature
• Native Plants for Boulevard Gardens, In Our Nature
• Native Plants for Dry Shade, In Our Nature

The method to germinate your seeds vary depending of the time of the year. This video from Pollinator Partnership provides an overview of all the options. Blooming Boulevards also provides detailed instructions. 

Most seeds require some form of cold moist stratification, which is a process of making seeds go through temperature fluctuations in a damp environment to simulate springtime. This process is necessary for successful germination for some seeds that have protective shells that can only be broken through a succession of cold and warm weather. Given that not all seeds require stratification, it is recommended to consult the Prairie Moon Nursery website (planting tab) to confirm whether it is needed. Plants that require stratification cannot be simply sown directly outdoors  either in the soil or in pots in the spring. 

Two options are available, and the second can be done even after the ground has frozen. It's best to wait once the likelihood of sudden temperature rise has passed to sow outdoors, which is typically between the end of November to mid-December. No watering or maintenance is necessary until the seedlings sprout.

Direct sowing in the ground. This is the easiest method for larger areas.  A rule of thumb is to cover the seeds with soil  approximately the diameter of the seed. However, it can be challenging to know what to weed  the following year, especially for beginners. 

Outdoor sowing in regular pots, with screens on top. If you don't have screens, you can put a thin layer of leaves or thin burlap or nothing at all. This method enables you to grow seedlings and plant them in the springtime. While the screens are not necessary, they will prevent seeds from being blown away or eaten by birds. It is best to put the pots in an eastern or northern facing area to make sure seeds do not get too much heat and sun. An overview of this method is provided by the Wild Seed Project. You can also use this method by the S&K Wildflower Rescue Nursery

This process uses outdoor plastic containers to create a mini greenhouse. Grow it and build it has put together a step by step sowing guide.

At this time of the year, indoor stratification (in the fridge) is recommended for these plants. Instructions on the process can be found on the North American Native Plant Society website. You can also watch videos from the Waterloo Wildflower Seed Library and Wildflower Farm. Please note that you cannot simply put the seed envelope in the fridge; you need a plastic bag and some other form of material (soil, paper towel or paper coffee filter) to ensure sufficient moisture level

During the summer, sow seeds directly in the soil at the end of after the blooming time. A rule of thumb is to cover the seeds with soil  approximately the height of the seed. Specific blooming timeframe are available on the Prairie Moon Nursery website. Seeds will typically germinate the following spring.

• How to build a simple hoop house cold frame for growing native plants outdoors, Blooming Boulevards
• How to transplant seedlings from trays into pots, Pollinator Partnership
• Micro-Nursery Q&A, Sundaura Alford-Purvis
• Native Plant Propagation: How to Set Up Indoor Grow Lights, Blooming Boulevards
• Planning a new garden? Start now - remove grass by smothering, Blooming Boulevards
• Seedling Native Plants Webinar, Muskoka Conservancy
• Seeds to Seedlings: Starting Native Plants from Seed, Pollinator Partnership
• Site Preparation for Wildflower Pollinator Gardens, Blooming Boulevard
• Thin! How to Rescue Overcrowded Seedlings, Blooming Boulevards
• Wild Plants from Seed: Propagating Eastern Canada's Native Vascular Plant Species, Graham Page & Kristl Walek 
• Winter Sowing Tips for Native Plant Seedlings, Nurture Native Nature