This often leads to concerns about burning their prairie in the spring, as it would seem that putting fire to seed laying on the ground or hanging in the still-standing growth would compromise the seed’s viability.

By doing a fall seeding, the seed in fact has all winter to drop down and make good contact with the soil well before the spring burn. The wind and rain get most of the seed down to ground level. The freeze-thaw cycle then works the seed into the soil. The temperature of a moving fire is not high enough to kill the seed and in some cases heat will help a species.  Ceanothus americanus (New Jersey Tea), for example, benefits from having a treatment of boiling water poured over the seeds to aid in germination for spring planting.

“I want to get your opinion on planting techniques:  The intent is to drill this seed in the spring.  But there is always the possibility that we won’t be ready to plant by then, which might lead us to doing a frost seeding next fall/winter.  Personally, frost seeding appeals to me because it just seems more natural.  If you were to do a broadcast frost seeding instead of drilling, would you boost up your seeding rate a little?  If so, how much?  Thanks for your opinion!”

I answered:

Ten or so years ago we were suggesting that people increase their seeding rates when doing a broadcast instead of drilling seed. Over the years we have backed off that recommendation as we have observed the results of many plantings. We are now confident that when sown on frozen grown the seed naturally gets into just the right depth as the frost action works the seed into the soil. Additionally since the seed is being spread over an area instead of restricted to a furrow I believe the plants are better able to establish without competing with each other.

For further information on frost seeding you can click on this link to another posting on our blog site:

Let us know if you have any other questions.

Thanks,
Bill