Seeding FAQ's
When is the best time to plant seeds, spring or fall?
Depends on the soil, site preparation schedule, slope, and site hydrology.
If
planting time is based on soil alone:
Sand: Seed in fall
- Heats up and dries out quickly in spring.
- Allows seedlings to germinate and become better established earlier in
spring.
- Roots have had time to grow deeper, and seedlings are more resistant to
summer dry spells.
Clay: Seed in fall
- Hard to work in the spring if it is wet.
- Clay dries out obstructing root development.
- Earlier germination means greater seedling establishment before summer
heat.
Medium Soil: Fall or spring are both acceptable.
In general
- If wildflower seeds are planted in fall, they go through winter in the soil,
breaking seed dormancies naturally, promoting higher spring germination rates
compared to spring or early summer seedings.
- Warm season grasses* show higher germination rates when planted in late
spring/early summer, compared to fall seedings.
General Planting Dates
- Spring: March-June 30
- Fall: Sept. 1-Freeze-up
(On erosion-prone sites, plant by Sept. 15 with a nurse crop)
*Warm season grasses do most of their growing during the warm summer months
Big Bluestem, Little Bluestem, Sideoats Grama and Indiangrass
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What are the recommendations for planting seed?
Small areas (less than 1-2 acres)
- Mix seed with slightly dampened sawdust, peat moss, or vermiculite (approx.
1 lb. seed/4 bushel baskets of inert material).
- Divide the mixture in half.
- Hand broadcast 1/2 of the seed evenly over your site.
- Hand broadcast the 2nd 1/2 of the seed over the same area, walking perpendicular
to your first pass.
- Cover the seed with 1/4"-1/2" of soil with a rake, drag, or piece
of chain link fence.
- Firm the seed in the soil by rolling over the site with a cultipacker,
roller, or drive across site with a truck or tractor tires.
Large areas (greater than 2 acres)
- Mechanically seed with a no-till seed drill (Truax, Nisbet, Tye), or a
Brillion seeder.
- Firm the seed in the soil by rolling over the site with a cultipacker,
roller, or drive across site with a truck or tractor tires, unless your seeder
already
firms the seed into the soil.
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Do newly planted seeds need to be watered? How much and how often?
Yes.
- Water regularly during the first 4 to 6 weeks after planting.
- Water after
6 weeks only if prolonged dry periods occur.
- Water every other morning for 15 to 30 minutes (just enough to keep the
soil moist)
- Do not over water!
- Do not water at night!! Fungus attacks seedlings at night under cool,
damp conditions.
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About issues with this website, please contact Ann Schmidt
anns@prairienursery.com
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