Installation
The method of installation will depend on the size of the planting, the condition of the soil, and your budget.
Seeding Methods
• Hand-broadcasting: For areas less than an acre or two, you can broadcast the seed by hand if the seed bed is prepared correctly. The mixed native seed can simply be put into a bucket and scattered by hand. Since it is challenging to distribute small quantities of native seed over an area, it is recommended to bulk up the seed mix by using a filler material such as cracked corn, sawdust, peat moss, or vermiculite. Mixed thoroughly with the native seed, it will aid in giving you more quantity to distribute over the site. Cover crop seed, such as annual rye or seed oats also aid in “bulking up” the seed, making it more flowable.
Hand crank seeders can be used to scatter seed although some of the native grass and forb seeds are quite fluffy and will not flow through the dispersal holes. If you use a hand crank seeder, you may have to continually stir the seed with your hand to keep it flowing through the dispersal openings.
The goal is to distribute the seed evenly. Scatter the seed carefully and be sure not to run out before covering the entire area. A recommended strategy to accurately distribute the seed would be to divide your total seed mix in half and scatter the first half of the seed over the entire area, then scatter the second half of the mix over the area perpendicular to the first pass. Dividing your site into smaller sections can also be helpful. If it is too windy, waiting for wind to decrease is recommended.
The seed should immediately be rolled or culti-packed into the top surface of the soil for best results. If not possible, lightly rake the seed into the soil surface using a leaf rake. If the area is too large to rake by hand, use a tractor or truck to pull a light piece of fence or very light drag.
• Native no-till drill: For larger areas, areas with hard ground, or areas with existing vegetation debris, a native no-till seed drill is recommended. Truax, Great Plains, and Tye are the primary brands available. No-till drills cause minimal soil disturbance, and do not require the soil to be tilled before planting. These drills plant seed into rows by opening a shallow groove in the soil. A Truax drill has three seed boxes, one for fluffy seeds (most grasses), another box for very small seeds (many forbs), and a third box for the cover crop or large native seeds.
Native no-till drills are available for rent from some local conservation districts, although, you will need to get proper instructions on how to accurately use it. Calibration of the drill is critical and complicated and requires continual monitoring during installation. Drill adjustment for proper depth of seed placement is also vitally important; adjustments to the drill need to be made on a site-by-site basis, and even with differing soil conditions within the same site. You may wish to hire a firm who specializes in native seed drilling. Many seed dollars are wasted and many projects unsuccessful due to improper knowledge of drill operation.
• Culti-packer native seeder: For bare soil, you could use a native culti-packer seeder. A culti-packer seeder firms the seed bed first, drops the seed, and then a roller packs the soil to ensure good seed-to-soil contact. These machines are less common, but are preferable to the no-till drill when planting into bare soils.
Watering
Watering is not necessary after fall plantings. Watering following a spring seeding is not essential either, however, the seeds may benefit from watering during the first 3 to 6 weeks after a spring planting, especially if no rain has fallen for 7-10 days. If watering is practical for your site and you decide to water, you will need to continue to water periodically to keep the soil from drying out completely while plant seedlings are establishing. In a dry spring, a quicker establishment may result with supplemental watering.
Click here for a recommended maintenance plan.