**Nebraska - Natural Resources Conservation Service August 2006**

+----------------+----------------+------------------------------------+
| **Landowner:   |                | **Farm #:      **                  |
|     **         |                |                                    |
+----------------+----------------+------------------------------------+
| **Field(s):    | **Acres:       | **Acres:      **                   |
|      **        |      **        |                                    |
+----------------+----------------+------------------------------------+
| **Soil Map     |                | **County:      **                  |
| Unit(s):       |                |                                    |
|      **        |                |                                    |
+----------------+----------------+------------------------------------+
| **Designed By: |                | **Approved By:      **             |
|      **        |                |                                    |
|                |                | **Signature:**                     |
+----------------+----------------+------------------------------------+
| **Date:        |                | **Date:      **                    |
|      **        |                |                                    |
+----------------+----------------+------------------------------------+

![](media/image1.png){width="3.8805555555555555in"
height="2.8291666666666666in"}

# DEFINITION

Establishing woody plants by direct seeding of tree and/or shrub seeds.

# PURPOSES (check all that apply)

Forest products

Wildlife habitat

Long-term erosion control

Water quality improvement

Waste treatment

Air pollution reduction

Carbon sequestration

Energy conservation

Enhance aesthetics

Recreation

# CONDITION WHERE PRACTICE APPLIES

Direct seeding for planting may be used under any of the following
conditions:

-   In open areas

-   In under-stocked woodlands.

-   On areas where the site can be prepared.

-   Where measures for protecting seed and germinating seedlings can be
    provided.

**SPECIFICATIONS**

## [Site Preparation]{.underline}

Any vegetation that would hinder planting or provide excessive
competition to the seeding should be removed with appropriate treatment.
Base site preparation activities on anticipated direct seeding method
and seed predation pressures. For spring seeding, begin site preparation
in the fall with a spring follow up. For fall seeding, begin site
preparation in mid-summer with an additional early fall follow up. *If
high seed predation is expected, seed predator numbers and/or habitat
should be reduced.* Prior to seeding, adequate protection from fire and
livestock should be established.

Site preparation is planned as follows **(check all that apply):**

Mechanical means such as plowing, disking or roto-tilling

Chemical control of vegetation

Prescribed burning based on a current approved prescribed burn plan

Other: **     **

[Site Preparation]{.underline} - Continued**:**

If a *cover crop* is needed, use the following species at the indicated
rates:

  ----------- ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------
  **Field**   **Temporary/Permanent**   **Species**                 **Rate -- PLS/ac**

                                                                    

                                                                    

                                                                    

                                                                    
  ----------- ------------------------- --------------------------- ------------------

If *chemical weed control* is needed, use the following products at
label rates:

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  **Field**               **Herbicide**           **Treatment Area:
                                                  field/strip/spot**

                                                  

                                                  

                                                  

                                                  
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

Existing shrubs or trees may be maintained if the site is to be
inter-planted and the retained plants will provide functions consistent
with the planned use. For wildlife purposes, consider retaining some
trees and shrubs that will provide den sites or mast production while
the new planting is becoming established. Undesirable plants that will
hamper planting or provide excessive shade should be removed or killed.

The following trees and shrubs will be maintained between inter-seeded
areas:

  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------
  **Field**               **Species**             **Species**

                                                       

                                                       

                                                       

                                                       
  ----------------------- ----------------------- -----------------------

## SEED COLLECTION

If seeds are field collected, place seeds in porous bags to prevent heat
buildup. Keep seeds cool and stratify if necessary. Careful observation
of seed fall and the amount of seed visible on the trees before seed
fall will help in deciding when to collect seed. Use the following table
to help manage seed collection for selected species. Tree specie per
acre rates are based on 4,000 heavy seeds per acre for drilling or hand
planting and 8,000 heavy seeds per acre or 30,000 light seeds per acre
for broadcast planting. Shrub specie rates are double the tree rate.

+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
|        | **Wild | **    | **P    | *      | **Red | **    | *     |
|        | Plum** | Black | ecan** | *White | Oak   | Hazel | *Chok |
|        |        | Wal   |        | Oak    | Gr    | nut** | e-che |
|        |        | nut** |        | G      | oup** |       | rry** |
|        |        |       |        | roup** |       |       |       |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Seed | June-O | Se    | Septe  | Oct    | Octo  | Septe | Au    |
| Matu   | ctober | ptemb | mber-O | ober - | ber - | mber- | gust- |
| rity** |        | er-Oc | ctober | No     | Nov   |       |       |
|        |        | tober |        | vember | ember | Oc    | Sept  |
|        |        |       |        |        |       | tober | ember |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Seed | Immed  | I     | Immed  | Fall   | Fall  | Fall  | I     |
| Dispe  | iately | mmedi | iately | and    | and   | and   | mmedi |
| rsal** | after  | ately | after  | early  | early | early | ately |
|        | rip    | after | rip    | w      | wi    | wi    | after |
|        | ening. | ripe  | ening. | inter. | nter. | nter. | ripe  |
|        | Gr     | ning. | Gr     | Gr     | Gra   | Gra   | ning. |
|        | avity, | Gra   | avity, | avity, | vity, | vity, | Gra   |
|        | a      | vity, | a      | a      | an    | an    | vity, |
|        | nimal, | an    | nimal, | nimal, | imal, | imal, | an    |
|        | and    | imal, | and    | and    | and   | and   | imal, |
|        | water  | and   | water  | water  | water | water | and   |
|        | d      | water | di     | d      | dis   | dis   | water |
|        | issemi | dis   | ssemin | issemi | semin | semin | dis   |
|        | nation | semin | ation. | nation | ation | ation | semin |
|        |        | ation |        |        |       |       | ation |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| **Good | Every  | Every | Every  | Every  | Every | Every | Every |
| Seed   | 1 -2   | 1 -2  | 1 -2   | 3-5    | 1-3   | 1-2   | 1 -2  |
| Y      | years  | years | years  | years  | years | years | years |
| ears** |        |       |        |        |       |       |       |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| **G    | Spring | S     | Spring | Immed  | S     | S     | S     |
| ermina | fol    | pring | fol    | iately | pring | pring | pring |
| tion** | lowing | foll  | lowing | fol    | foll  | foll  | foll  |
|        | summe  | owing | fall   | lowing | owing | owing | owing |
|        | r/fall | fall  | seed   | seed   | fall  | fall  | s     |
|        | seed   | seed  | dis    | dis    | seed  | seed  | ummer |
|        | dis    | disp  | persal | persal | disp  | disp  | /fall |
|        | persal | ersal |        |        | ersal | ersal | seed  |
|        |        |       |        |        |       |       | disp  |
|        |        |       |        |        |       |       | ersal |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| **P    | 90-150 | 9     | 90     | None   | 30-60 | 9     | 9     |
| rechil | days   | 0-120 | days   | re     | days  | 0-120 | 0-150 |
| ling** |        | days  |        | quired |       | days  | days  |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+
| *      | 850    | 50    | 100    | Bur    | Red   | 400   | 4000  |
| *Clean | seeds  | seeds | seeds  | Oak -  | Oak - | seeds | seeds |
| Seed   |        |       |        | 60     | 125   |       |       |
| s/Lb** |        |       |        |        |       |       |       |
|        |        |       |        | White  | Black |       |       |
|        |        |       |        | Oak -  | Oak - |       |       |
|        |        |       |        | 90     | 250   |       |       |
|        |        |       |        |        |       |       |       |
|        |        |       |        | Swamp  | Pin   |       |       |
|        |        |       |        | WO -   | Oak - |       |       |
|        |        |       |        | 120    | 420   |       |       |
+--------+--------+-------+--------+--------+-------+-------+-------+

## 

## SEEDING METHODS AND RATES

Tree/shrub seed may be planted anytime from November through April that
soil and site conditions allow (Do not seed into frozen soil. Good soil
moisture should be present in upper 10 inches before planting).
Non-stratified seed should be planted before January 1. Spring seeding
can reduce rodent and insect damage. Fall seeding can eliminate the need
for stratification. Acorns of most species in the white oak group have
little or no dormancy and should be planted as soon as possible after
collection in the fall. Keep seed in sealed plastic bags in refrigerated
storage (at about 40 degrees F) until ready to plant. Inspect seed
before planting. Care must be taken to completely cover the seed and
achieve good soil-seed contact. Use the deeper planting depths for
larger seeds, herbicide pretreatments, if seed predation pressure is
anticipated, or if surface soil moisture is limiting. Use the shallower
depth for shrub seedings.

One or more of the following seeding methods should be used:

> *Broadcast (light or heavy seeds):* Broadcast light seeds evenly over
> the planting area and cover seeds with mineral soil (2-4 inches) or
> disk 1-2 inches deep. If light seeds are used with heavy seeds, spread
> the heavy seeds first, disk 2-4 inches deep, then sow light seeds and
> disk 1-2 inches deep. Roll the planted area to assure good soil-seed
> contact.
>
> *Hand (heavy seeds only):* Place nuts/acorns twice as deep as the
> nut/acorn diameter (approximately 4 inches deep) and firm soil over
> the hole to assure good soil-seed contact.
>
> *Machine (heavy seeds only):* Plant in furrows twice as deep as the
> nut/acorn diameter. Plant mixtures of hardwood seeds in a furrow 2-4
> inches deep. Plant mixtures of shrub seeds in a furrow 1-2 inches
> deep. Plant trees in rows no more than 25 feet apart to ensure
> adequate density; plant shrub rows no more than 10 feet apart.

[Planting Rates]{.underline}:

When seeding rates in pounds per acre are not available, use the
following general seeding rates:

-   For tree species, use a minimum of 4,000 heavy seeds per machine or
    hand planted acre and 8,000 heavy seeds or 30,000 light seeds per
    seeded acre for broadcast seeding. For shrub species, double the
    tree rate.

-   For direct seeding wildlife habitat development or wetland
    restoration, a minimum rate of 750 seeds per acre can be used,
    provided there is an adequate mature seed source of desired species
    within 300 feet. If a mature seed source is not close, follow the
    above general use guidelines for trees and shrubs.

**Species and Plant Spacing**

+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
| *   | **Species** | *         | **       | **        | *    | **T  |
| *Fi |             | *Planting | Planting | Spacing** | *Pla | otal |
| eld |             | Rate      | Method   |           | nted | L    |
| /Ro |             | L         | \#**     | **Ft. X   | Acr  | BS** |
| w** |             | BS/Acre** |          | Ft**      | es** |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          |     Ft X  |      |      |
|     |             |           |          |     Ft    |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+
|     |             |           |          | ***       |      |      |
|     |             |           |          | Total:*** |      |      |
+-----+-------------+-----------+----------+-----------+------+------+

*\* Spot planting, Machine planting, Broadcast planting, Strip Planting*

**OPERATION AND MAINTENANCE: Care after direct seeding**

*Weed Control:* Elimination of competing vegetation is normally carried
out for one to five years after planting. Weed control is an important
factor in tree and shrub seedling survival, especially for hardwood
species. Weed control will be accomplished through:

**cultivation** and/or

**herbicide** use and/or

**mowing**

Mechanical or hand cultivation should be kept at least 6 inches from the
seedling and no deeper than three inches to avoid damage to the seedling
and roots. Additional methods may be needed to control weeds closer to
the seedling. The use of herbicides usually provides good weed control.
Mowing ***generally does not*** provide adequate control after
establishment since the weeds are still competing for nutrients and
water; also potential damage to tree seedlings from mowing is high. High
mowing (\>10 inches) to control flowering and seed development of weeds
in the establishment year can be beneficial.

*Pest Management:* Control of weeds (which may hide rodents or rabbits),
repellants or poisons, and hunting should be considered to reduce damage
from wild animals. New seedlings should be monitored for potential
wildlife, insect and disease problems and appropriate control measures
taken if problems are found.

*Livestock Exclusion:* Plant injury or death should be controlled
through preventative measures. Domestic animals that might graze on
seedlings should be excluded.

*Replanting:* Some sites may have unsatisfactory germination or plants
may die over time to a variety of causes. The decision to re-plant for
some or all of the losses or failures will be based on whether or not
the remaining plants will likely meet the desired purpose(s) and any
program requirements. After two growing seasons, a final status check of
the plantings or regeneration should be conducted. For this planting, an
acceptable level of plant establishment is [     ]{.underline} woody
plants per acre.

**Operation and Maintenance - Summary**

1.  Competing vegetation should be controlled until the woody plants are
    established.

2.  State noxious weeds will be controlled.

3.  Reseeding will be required when survival is inadequate.

4.  Plantings should be inspected periodically and protected from
    adverse impacts including insects, diseases, competing vegetation,
    wildfire and damage from livestock or wildlife.

Note: Direct seeding is applicable to Field Office Technical Guide
Standards 612, 643, 644, and 645. The Nebraska Field Office Technical
Guide, Section IV, contains information about each of these standards.
The electronic version of the Nebraska Field Office Technical Guide may
be found at http://www.ne.nrcs.usda.gov.

**ADDITIONAL COMMENTS:**

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![](media/image5.jpeg){width="4.2in" height="2.752083333333333in"}

**Acorn seed being machine planted, Joel Hansen Farm, Northeastern
Nebraska.**

Photo courtesy of Steve Rasmussen, District Forester, Nebraska Forest
Service

**Planning Map of Seeding Area (indicate North on map)**

Scale 1\"=\_\_\_\_\_\_\_\_ ft. (NA indicates sketch not to scale. Grid
size = 1/2" by 1/2\")

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