Do we need to worry about birds eating the seeds?
What species are included in the mix?
What germination rates should we expect?
What about mulch?
Should seeds be spread all over our yard?
Should we be concerned about wood chips on the ground?
Will the seeds require full and direct light? Or will they come up in shady conditions
We selected a variety of seeds for this mix to ensure they would germinate and grow in any conditions found on the mountain. Therefore, you may see certain plants come up in the shade, while others will germinate in direct sunlight. This also holds true for moist vs. dry sites and North-facing slopes vs. South-facing slopes. Back to FAQ Top
Do
we need
to worry about birds eating the seeds?
Typically, birds will eat seed that is just distributed on the soil surface, but they will not eat more than about 10% of the seed. If you are concerned about the loss of seed to bird consumption, you may rake over the seed once you’ve distributed it onto the soil. This will make it less likely for birds to have easy access to the seed. Back to FAQ Top
What
species are included in the mix?
Species included in the mix are shown in the brochure. The list is also on the SEED MIX page. Photos are provided for your reference of each species. Please note that you may not see all of the species germinate and sprout in every area of seeding because germination depends on the specific microsite.Back to FAQ Top
What
germination rates should we expect?
The germination rates will be
dependent on a number
of factors. If you
choose to spread your
seed via broadcast seeding (toss and spread seed without scratching the
soil
surface) your expected germination rate will be approximately 40-50%. If you scratch the soil
surface then
distribute the seed, your expected germination rate will increase to
80-90%. There will
be some seed
mortality due to a number of causes (animals, non-viability, and
others).Back to FAQ
Top
Mulching over the seeded area is
not
necessary. In the
wild (or in a natural
setting), these
plants would typically just drop their seeds when they are mature and
future
plants would develop from those seeds.
We
are merely replicating that process.
If
you scratch the soil surface, you are providing a
better chance for
those seeds to come into direct contact with surface soil, which will
improve
their chances. If
you would like to rake
over the seeded area again once you’ve spread the seed
(mixing seed and
soil a
bit more), this is perfectly acceptable – although you need
to take
care to not
bury the seeds. The
seeds should be
fairly close to the surface of the soil to respond to sunlight and
available
moisture. Back
to FAQ Top
Should
seeds be spread all over our yard?
We recommend planting seeds in small patches across your entire property, to better replicate the natural growth of plants. Plants typically occur in patches because their seed dispersal is limited to where the seeds fall.Back to FAQ Top
Should
we
be concerned about wood chips on the ground?
If your site has wood chips spread evenly across the surface, use your rake to clear away some of the heavy mulch (wood chips and other woody debris like twigs and small branches), then plant your seeds as described on the brochure. You may rake over the surface again (to mix seeds into soil), but do not cover the seeded area again with wood chips. You can decrease erosion potential by leaving mulched areas down slope of the treated site (within one rake’s distance of seeded area).Back to FAQ Top
Last Updated 9/26/2008