Stewardship Notes
Indiana Division of Forestry
Direct Seeding
It is quite possible to plant tree seeds to reforest a site or to increase the number of a
particular species of tree per acre. Direct seeding is less expensive and faster than
planting bare root tree seedlings, although planting seedlings is more consistently
successful.
Since heavy seeds (oak, walnut, hickory, pecan, persimmon, etc.) are not spread as easily
as those spread by wind (maple, cottonwood, ash, tuliptree, etc.) this sheet will discuss
heavy seeded species.
Choose the Site
Be sure the species of tree to be seeded will survive and thrive on the site. Extremes of
site conditions, such as a wet bottomland or a dry, rocky hilltop, require different tree
species. Your district forester can help you choose the best species for your site.
Amount of Seed Needed
It is desirable to establish at least 500 seedlings per acre; more is preferable. Plan to plant
two or three times this amount of seed over two to three consecutive years or until this
goal is reached. To achieve this density, plant rows 10 feet apart with seeds spaced every
8 to 10 feet in the rows. Seeds do not have to be planted in rows, but it does help to
relocate the seedlings to measure germination success and to control competition.
Seed Collection
All heavy tree seeds mature in the fall. Seed quality, source and availability are the three
most important considerations in seed collection.
• Seed quality, or the ability to produce a seedling, varies greatly from year to year
and from tree to tree. The only practical way to estimate quality is to "cut test" a
random sample of seed for a given tree. The seed should be cut in half
lengthwise. A good seed will be bright in color and not severely damaged by
insect larvae. Healthy seed color ranges from white to orange. On average, it
takes two good seeds to produce one viable seedling.
• The best source of seed is a local source because it is likely to be adapted to local
conditions. If a local source is not available, it is best to obtain seed from within a
200-mile radius of the planting area.
• Tree seed crops vary widely from year to year. Most species have a 2 to 4 year
cycle from abundance to scarcity.
402 W. Washington Street, Room W296, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232 – 4105
www.dnr.IN.gov/forestry
Stewardship Notes
Indiana Division of Forestry
Seed Dormancy
Most tree seeds are dormant when they fall from the tree. Dormant
seeds will not germinate until they have been exposed to cool,
moist (but not freezing) conditions for about three months. In nature, this ensures the
seed does not germinate until the following spring. Members of the white oak group
(white oak, chinkapin oak, swamp chestnut oak, etc.) have seeds that produce a root in
the fall but do not develop a shoot until spring.
Seed Storage
The major consideration in seed storage is to keep the seeds moist (not wet) and cool
(about 35 degrees F) until they can be sown. If the seed is allowed to dry out, it may
loose viability, or may set dormancy so there will be no germination until the second
spring after sowing.
Planting Seed
The best time to plant seed is in the fall as soon as the seed can be collected. It should be
sown with about 1/2" of soil cover and protected with a light cover of mulch if the soil is
otherwise bare over the winter. Planting seed too deep will delay emergence of the
seedling.
Seed Protection
The most likely cause of failure of direct seeding is predation of seed by a wide variety of
wild creatures ranging from squirrels to deer. There are few cost-effective means of
preventing this damage other than reducing the population of seed predators. The other
cause of seed loss is extreme cold weather (0 degrees F and below) without snow. One
approach that may reduce loss is to sow the tree seed as early as possible in the fall and
then plant wheat to produce a cover crop. The wheat is selectively killed in late spring
with a herbicide such as Fusilade*. Another approach is to store the seed over winter in a
refrigerator and plant in the spring. This does not eliminate the problem of squirrels and
other creatures, however, as they have exhausted their other sources of food by spring.
Site Preparation
Annual and perennial weeds will severely compete with direct seeded plantings on most
sites. Tree seedlings growing from seed grow quickly for about 6 weeks after emergence
while they have food reserves from the seed. After these reserves have been used, top
growth will nearly cease unless weed competition is controlled. The growth that does
occur will be mainly in the root system. It is probable that the seedlings will grow very
402 W. Washington Street, Room W296, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232 – 4105
www.dnr.IN.gov/forestry
Stewardship Notes
Indiana Division of Forestry
slowly for several years until their root systems have become large
enough to compete with the existing vegetation.
For more information on direct seeding, contact your district forester or the Division of
Forestry office at:
402 W. Washington St. Room W296
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 232-4105
*Mention of a specific product or brand name is not meant to be an endorsement of that
product by the Division of Forestry or the state of Indiana, but is for identification
purposes only.
402 W. Washington Street, Room W296, Indianapolis, IN 46204 (317) 232 – 4105
www.dnr.IN.gov/forestry
