# Presentation: 538923

## DIRECT SEEDINGEstablishing a Forest With Seed

## BENEFITSDirect SeedingVS.Tree Seedings

## Why Direct Seed?

- Larger Planting Window, Fall Season
- Use 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 needs
-  Scout potential seed trees
-  Use a Bag-a-Nut
-  Be efficient
-  Float, sort/inspect, store

## DetermineYour Needs, Match Species to Site

***Tree Planting Plan--**** an attachment to NRCS Conservation Plan, prescribes the seed per acre and matches 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
- Pays for itself in less than 8 hours
- Works best in mowed grass situation, with some site prep
- Match machine to seed size
- For more information 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

**Soaking Seed**

**Sorting Seed**

## Bagging and Storing Seed

## Purchasing Seed

- _Local_ seed is the best seed
- Contact NRCS, 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 it’s your own seed, inspect on sorting table, before bagging
- Cut or crack test, look for seed that is: filled, light-colored, bug-free

## Seed Care and Handling

- 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

## Slide 20

## 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 Rates--Row Seeding

- MINIMUM of 3,000 hard mast seed/acre
- At 10’ row spacing, leave 16” or less between seeds
- Planting depth = 2X seed diameter, 1-4”, depending on species
- If no light seeded spp. nearby, add 1,000 seed/acre

## Seeding Rates--Broadcast Seeding

- MINIMUM of 4,800 hard mast seed/acre
- Planting depth = 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’ radius circle or 4’ wide band with trees or seed centered in 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.  **

## But...

**broadleaf competition is OK...**

**Grass competition is **
**a prescription for failure!**

**But...**

## Give these young trees a good start... weed-free!

## IOWA ESTIMATED COSTS OF DIRECT SEEDING

## ILLINOIS ESTIMATED COSTS OF DIRECT SEEDING

## One and Two Year Old 

**One and Two Year Old **
**Seedlings**

## One Year Old Seedlings

**One Year Old Seedlings**

## One Year Old Broadcast Seeding

**One Year Old Broadcast Seeding**

## 5 year old SWO

**5 year old SWO**

**6 year old Black Walnut**

## 5 year old broadcast

**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!**

- USDA NRCS is an equal opportunity provider and employer