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Mycorrhizal Inoculum - per lb.

$19.00
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Details

Catalog Code
AM120-M

Mycorrhizal Inoculum for Exposed Subsoil, sold by the lb. 
Shipping fee is included (within the contiguous US).
For use on sites where topsoil is missing or highly disturbed from construction or erosion. The mycorrhizal fungi forms a symbiotic relationship with most species of plants, allowing healthier growth.

Store under cool, dry conditions (refrigerator) if not using immediately. Do not expose to direct sunlight for long periods of time. CAUTION!: Always wear a dust mask when handling.

Nursery Medium: Evenly blend 5 lbs per cubic yard.

Seeding Rates: Use 1.4 lbs per 1,000 sq ft, or 60 lbs per acre. 

Broadcast and Till (see photos):  Evenly distribute over area (if applying at the same time of your native seed, inoculant should go on after seed). Cover the exposed seed and inocululant with light raking or apply a light cover of topsoil or other organic matter.

Hydroseeding: Apply in the first pass with seed and a controlled release or organic fertilizer.  A second pass with mulch to lightly cover the exposed seed and inoculant is recommended.

Seed Drilling: Incorporate in the soil at a depth set for native seed.

Row Crop: Side dress seed furrows or transplants at rates of 5 - 8 lbs./acre on 30 - 40 inch spaced rows.

*call for special pricing on very large orders. 

5 Questions asked on Mycorrhizal Inoculum - per lb.

When is the best time to apply the myco? Just before the last rototill? If it is incorporated into the soil will the last glyphosate treatment affect the myco? Cheers
Hi Paul. Plan to put the Mycorrhizal Inoculum on the soil as close to seeding time as possible, even after seeding since inoculum needs to associate with forming plant roots, and extended sun exposure is not good for it. No, we don’t believe glyphosate will affect the mycorrhizal fungi. Certainly wait a few days and let the herbicide work before you seed and apply the inoculum.
Does this contain both endo and ectomycorrhizae?
Hi Mandy. I reached out to our supplier on this and this was their answer: "It contains a single species of endomycorrhizae, meaning that when it colonizes plant roots it actually penetrates the cell wall of the root cells, creating an effective pathway for transport of moisture and nutrients from the soil to the plant. Specifically, the species is Rhizophagus intraradices." I hope this is what you were looking for.
I am in the process of wiping my lawn clean via the occulation/solarization process. I have also lightly cultivated the soil to dethatch the dead grass. My intent next spring is to replace the dead lawn with a mix of Blue Grama, Buffalo, Little Blue Stem and Side Oats Grama...with a few wildflowers thrown in. Would the addition of Mycorrhizal Inoculum at seeding time help? Please advise...
Hi Gaurav, Adding this inoculum could help replenish some of the soil life that was damaged during solarization and cultivation. However, there is research showing that mycorrhizal inoculants only make a significant difference for prairie establishment under very poor soil conditions (very low nutrient availability), so I don't think it will be necessary in your case.
Can you clarify application timeframe for my situation, please? I am purchasing several of your flower seed varieties requiring cold stratification that I plan to scatter when I get them (late fall, 2022, ~ 6,600 ft altitude Colorado) to an area of very poor soil condition due to construction/disruption. Would this inoculum need to be added in the Spring so as not to kill it with our cold/winter coming up? Or should it be applied after the seed as you recommend under other circumstances? Thanks.
Sure thing, Terry! Mycorrhizal Inoculum will not be harmed by the cold, so a late fall sowing directly after broadcasting your native seed is fine. Hot, dry conditions would be more worrisome.
We are planning a native plant garden for an area that has been covered by asphalt for decades. After the asphalt is removed down to native soil it will still be compressed and lacking in nutrients. Besides compost we are considering the use of Mycorrhizal Inoculum and/or Biochar. We will be planting a few trees and shrubs, Sedge plugs and many perennial native plants, plus some seeding of native grasses. Is use of Mycorrhizal Inoculum mainly for seeded areas, or should it be used with native plants? The area is a bit over 3,000 sq ft. Is this used mainly for new plantings, or could one use it in existing gardens? (Thinking ahead for planting in 2024)
Great questions, Lila! Mycorrhizal Inoculum can be used for both seeded areas and plug/plant installations. Scatter the inoculum over the recently sown seeds and gently rake it in - or add a final thin layer of compost over the top. Mycorrhizal Inoculum is most effective when it is in close proximity to the developing roots; distribute the inoculum just beyond the drip line of new plants. This inoculum is primarily beneficial for depleted soils. If plants are already growing in the existing gardens, it will not harm them - but it probably is not necessary to add, either.

Seed

Growing your own plants from seed is the most economical way to add natives to your home. Before you get started, one of the most important things to know about the seeds of wild plants is that many have built-in dormancy mechanisms that prevent the seed from germinating. In nature, this prevents a population of plants from germinating all at once, before killing frosts, or in times of drought. To propagate native plants, a gardener must break this dormancy before seed will grow.

Each species is different, so be sure to check the GERMINATION CODE listed on the website, in the catalog, or on your seed packet. Then, follow the GERMINATION INSTRUCTIONS prior to planting. Some species don't need any pre-treatment to germinate, but some species have dormancy mechanisms that must be broken before the seed will germinate. Some dormancy can be broken in a few minutes, but some species take months or even years.

Seed dormancy can be broken artificially by prolonged refrigeration of damp seed in the process of cold/moist STRATIFICATION. A less complicated approach is to let nature handle the stratifying through a dormant seeding, sowing seeds on the surface of a weed-free site in late fall or winter. Tucked safely beneath the snow, seeds will be conditioned by weathering to make germination possible in subsequent growing seasons.

To learn more, read our BLOG: How to Germinate Native Seeds

Dormant Bare Root Plants

We dig plants when they are dormant from our outdoor beds and ship them April-May and October. Some species go dormant in the summer and we can ship them July/August. We are among the few still employing this production method, which is labor intensive but plant-friendly. They arrive to you dormant, with little to no top-growth (bare-root), packed in peat moss. They should be planted as soon as possible. Unlike greenhouse-grown plants, bare-root plants can be planted during cold weather or anytime the soil is not frozen. A root photo is included with each species to illustrate the optimal depth and orientation. Planting instructions/care are also included with each order.

Download: Installing Your Bare-Root Plants

Potted Plants

3-packs and trays of 32, 38, or 50 plants leave our Midwest greenhouses based on species readiness (being well-rooted for transit) and order date; Spring shipping is typically early May through June, and Fall shipping is mid-August through September. Potted 3-packs and trays of 38 plugs are started from seed in the winter so are typically 3-4 months old when they ship. Trays of 32/50 plugs are usually overwintered so are 1 year old. Plant tray cells are approximately 2” wide x 5” deep in the trays of 38 and 50, and 2.5" wide x 3.5" deep in the 3-packs and trays of 32; ideal for deep-rooted natives. Full-color tags and planting & care instructions are included with each order.

Download: Planting and Care of Potted Plants

*PLEASE NOTE: we are a mail order nursery and have no retail facilities, but you may pick up your order if prior arrangements are made. Pick up orders are subject to 7.375% MN Sales Tax.

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