When Seeding Isn’t Simple: Native Grass Considerations
When Seeding Isn’t Simple: Native Grass Considerations
With the weather warming up and spring right around the corner, so is seeding. If you are looking at seeding native grass it can come with some definite challenges. To make the project less daunting, here are a few considerations before undertaking a grass seeding project.
Native grass seed is more difficult to source and supply than a typical tame grass species. This is because the plants themselves are harder to grow and establish to the point where seed can be harvested. They can be grown in plots or harvested from wild sources but there are very few native seed suppliers and they are still at the mercy of mother nature like any of us. When they have a year of low or poor production, there simply isn’t much seed produced. Further increasing scarcity and affecting prices.
The seeds themselves are typically very light, fluffy and can be prone to shattering. Due to these qualities, they can be incredibly fragile so handling them can come with some extra precautions. Some plants such as the one featured in our last blog, “Get to Know Your Grasslands: Winterfat”, can lose seed viability quickly when in storage, so understanding what is included in your blend can be vital to how successful an establishment is. When choosing which grasses or forbs to include in your blend, you can take note of what species do well in your area and for your soil type to help to improve potential success. Working with groups such as the SSGF can help landowners narrow down potential blend ideas and access resources to learn more about their local plant community.
Many landowners who choose to seed native grass will use equipment they already have to reduce costs such as air drills. If you are using an air drill, you may need to make modifications to ensure proper delivery which may mean modifying or retrofitting agitators in the tank and selecting a carrier for the seed. By using a carrier, it makes sure that the light, fluffy seeds like warm season grasses or species with awns are physically pushed through the drill at a desired and consistent rate. Carriers can vary from cereal seeds to fertilizer and even clay cat litter has been known to be used. A general rule of thumb when seeding native grass is to go slow and check rows often. Native species seeds have to be seeded shallow and fan speed cannot be too high so that the seed doesn’t get blown out of the row but the seeds still need appropriate soil contact to germinate. Regardless of what equipment you use, ensuring proper calibration is key to not wasting expensive blends.
Land preparation shouldn’t be taken lightly and needs to involve extensive weed control to set yourself up success. Seeding native grass can be done in the spring or in the fall/winter on the frost. Depending on the blend you are using, some plants need a cold, moist stratification period. By ‘frost-seeding’ it allows the seed to slowly melt into the snow while future snows can potentially cover it up and protect it from the elements or even wildlife eating the seed. This process tends to replicate the natural cycle of plants and in turn, help to possibly increase germination rates.
Once the seed is in the ground, much of the success relies on mother nature to do her part. For any sort of success, you will need sufficient moisture. Some years, that’s a lot to ask for. Waiting for the grass to establish is patience testing and typically takes at least two years of rest before you can let grazing occur. During establishment, be on the lookout for invasive weeds, poor germination and anything else that can impact the biodiversity and success of the native plants. If you are interested in a native seeding project, contact the SSGF for technical and financial assistance!
Author: Mindy Hockley-Anderson