DIRECT SEEDING

Establishing A ForestWith Seed

BENEFITSOF

DIRECT SEEDINGVS.

TREE SEEDLINGS

WHY DIRECT SEED?

Larger Planting Window, Fall Season Utilize Local or In-State Seed Resource More Trees/Acre-Quicker Canopy-Form Undisturbed Root System/No

Transplant Overwhelm The Critters More Natural Appearance Shorter Maintenance Period Potentially Less Expensive

WHY PLANT SEEDLINGS?

Seed germination is uncertain, seedlings are a known quantity

There are more potentially damaging agents for seed than seedlings

Seed crops and seed availability are uncertain

Seedlings may have a head start the first year, depending on size and quality

SEED COLLECTION

Determine your needsScout potential seed treesUse a Bag-a-NutBe efficientFloat, sort/inspect, store

DetermineYour Needs,

Match Species to

Site• Tree Planting Plan, an

attachment to NRCS Conservation Plan, will prescribe the seed per acre and match species to site.

Scout Potential Seed Trees

• Be sure of species ID

• Locate on a large scale map

• Red oak group visible in July, white by August

• Obtain permission to collect

Locate Heavy Seed Producers

Mechanized Seed Collection

Using a Bag-a-Nut

• Up to 1 bushel (about 50 pounds) per hour of medium-sized acorns

• Can pay for itself in less than 8 hours

• Works best in mowed grass situation, with some site prep

• Match machine to seed size

• For more info. see www.directseeding.org

Be efficient, gear up before you start:

• Rakes• Blower/vac • Bag-a-Nut • Containers • soaking pool

• sorting table• onion bags• cold storage

Be Efficient

• Be prepared: In central Illinois seed begins to drop late-August to mid-September

• White oak group is usually first, then red, pin drops late

• Concentrate on trees with a BIG seed drop

• Collect after windy storms

• Collect BEFORE leaves fall

• After leaves fall use blower/vac to remove leaves

Soaking Seed Sorting Seed

Bagging and Storing Seed

Purchasing Seed

• Local seed is the best seed

• Contact District Forester and/or SWCD

• Check www.directseeding.org

• Follow “Seed Care and Handling”

Seed Care and Handling

• “Float” collected seed, soak ALL seed

• Immerse 4-8 hours • Inspect at least 10

seeds/bushel• If its your own seed

inspect on the sorting table, before bagging

• Cut or crack test, look for seed that is: filled, light-colored, bug-free

• Bag in porous, woven (“onion”) sacks

• Store in cool, well-ventilated location, protected from predators

• If delayed more than 2 weeks, place in plastic bags and refrigerate @ 33-40 degrees

Inspect All Tree Seed• Use a hand pruner for

acorns, a hammer for walnuts & hickorys

• Keep seed that is:– Filled– Bright, uniform color– undamaged

• Discard seed that is– Shriveled, shrunken– Dark colored or mottled– Cracked, holed, or

otherwise damaged

Use High Quality Seed

• Plant only undamaged, mature, viable seed

• Cut or crack test at least 10 random seeds per bushel

• If non-viable seed is found, increase seeding rate by the same percentage

PLANTING TIME

-ASAP, Fall is best

-white oaks-must fall plant, especially Quercus alba & chinkapin

-if properly stored, plant any time ground is not frozen or dry

-very risky between June and September

Seeding RatesRow Seeding

* MINIMUM of 3,000 hard mast seed/acre

* At 10’ row spacing, about 16” or less between seeds

* Planting depth about 2X seed diameter, 1-4” depending on species

* If no light seeded spp. nearby, add 1,000 seed/acre

Seeding RatesBroadcast Seeding

* MINIMUM of 4,800 hard mast seed/acre

* Planting depth about 2X seed diameter, 1-4” depending on species

* If no light seeded spp. nearby, add 1,000 seed/acre

Site Preparation, Row Planting• Till and/or spray a

minimum 2-foot radius circle or 4-foot wide band with trees or seed centered in the grass free area.

• Grass species, esp. sod-forming, are death to trees.

• Use snap trap survey to estimate potential rodent populations.

Mow or till between rows to minimize rodent habitat

Site Preparation, Broadcast

• Crop ground– Disk Several Times

• Pasture/Brome– Mow grass in

August.– Spray 2 quarts of

Roundup in September

– Plow and Disk

Row Seeding Equipment

Row Seeding Equipment

Modified Corn Planters

Broadcast Seeding

WEED CONTROL FOR DIRECT SEEDING

> Competition must be controlled for minimum of two years

> Good control of grasses and weeds is critical

WEED CONTROL FOR DIRECT SEEDING

1st Year

Pre-emergents

Pendulum (Prowl) - 2qts/ac.

Goal - 2 to 4 qts/ac. (expensive)

Post-emergents

Fusilade - grasses 6-10”; 1 pint/ac. plus a non-ionic surfactant

OR

Envoy - grasses < 12”; 1 pint/ac.

Transline or Stinger - broadleaves; 1/2 pint/ac.

See: IL Forest Herbicide Manual, IL Direct Seeding Handbook, & www.directseeding.org.

WEED CONTROL FOR DIRECT SEEDING

2nd Year

Pre-emergents

Pendulum (2 to 3 qts/ac). + Princep (2 to 4 qts/ac.)

Post-emergents (weeds no more than 6-12” tall)

Fusilade - grasses (1 pint/ac.)

Transline or Stinger - broadleaves (1/2 pint/ac.)

Oust - grasses and broadleaves (1/2 to 3/4 oz/ac.)

See: IL Forest Herbicide Manual, IL Direct Seeding Handbook, & www.directseeding.org.

Plantation Maintenance

• Maintain weed free area for 2-3 years

• Replant if survival drops below 500 after 2 years, counting desirable natural regeneration.

A little late-season broadleaf competition is OK...

Grass competition is a prescription for failure!

Give these young trees a good start…weed-free

IOWA ESTIMATED COSTS OF DIRECT SEEDING

OPERATION COST/ACRESite Preparation

Grass CoverCropland

$100$20

Seed $150 to 200

Seeding Labor $70

Herbicide (1st Year) $50

Herbicide (2nd Year) $50

Total Cost $340 to 470

ILLINOIS ESTIMATED COSTS OF DIRECT SEEDING

One and Two Year Old Seedlings

One Year Old Seedlings

One Year Old Broadcast Seeding

5 year old SWO6 year old Black Walnut

5 year old broadcast 7 year old broadcast

Keys to Success with Direct Seeding

• Use a professional

• Control weeds

• Match spp. to site

• Inspect all seed, carefully store & handle (cool & moist)

• Survey and manage rodent populations

• Use lots of seed

• Use lots of species

• Plant @ proper depth

KEEP ON GROWING!