Note no plastic tarps are needed. Another popular sower is the vacuum types that take into account seed size, germination rate, seed cleanliness to give a precise number of seeds across the nursery. Precise placement of seed ensures proper spacing for the development of the seedling root structure and stem diameters. After sowing the beds are treated with soil stabilizer which holds the seed and soil beds in place. Sometimes this is also amended with a pre-emergent herbicide to keep the weeds from germinating.
Some nurseries place a wood chip mulch over the beds to keep the soil and seed from washing away.
It also moderates soil temperatures. Seedlings are irrigated almost daily depending upon the rainfall. They are also treated with fungicides to control fusiform rust and fertilized to ensures proper seedling nutrition. Seedlings are also top pruned to give a uniform seedling size and stem caliper. After less than 8 months in the ground, seedlings are lifted for outplanting.