How to Make Seed Bombs aka Seed
Grenades, Seed "Green-Aids" or Seed Balls
A variation of this
technique to promote foliage growth on barren sites was
developed in 1973 by Liz Christy in New York City.
She had the idea of
gathering members of her community together in the Lower
East Side of the city to clean out, reclaim and replant
vacant and abandoned lots. The organization she founded
(the
Green Guerillas) still exists today.
Liz Christy and the Green
Guerillas original seed bombs were made of old Christmas
tree ornaments and balloons filled with local wildflower
seeds, water and fertilizer. The seed bombs were then
thrown over fences of vacant lots where the seeds would
germinate and
eventually flower helping to beautify the scarred land.
According to
Wikipedia, seed ball planting is an old technique
developed in Japan
and called Tsuchi Dango translated as Earth Dumpling.
Basically seeds were mixed with mud, allowed to dry then
planted in the fields. Masanobu Fukuoka, a Japanese microbiologist and soil
scientist specializing in agricultural science
reintroduced the technique in 1938.
Hard Seed Ball Recipe
Basic Ingredients:
5 Cups Dry Terracotta clay
3 Cups Dry Gardening Soil or Organic Compost
1 Cup of seeds*
1 - 2 Cups of water (preferably not tap) in a
Spray Mister
Step 1: Sift Dry Terracotta clay through
a strainer to remove large chunks
Step 2: Mix in Dry Soil or Compost
Step 3: Add seeds*
Step 4: Blend everything together well
Step 5: Mist water onto the mixture
while stirring. Spray enough water to allow the
mixture to stick/bind together.
Step 5: Take a healthy tablespoon of the
finished mixture and roll (in the palm of your
hand) into round balls.
Step 6: Put seed balls in the sun to dry
completely for a day or two.
Step 7: Toss seed balls onto chosen area.
Step 8: Wait for rain to allow seeds
to germinate.
Makes approximately 30 - 40 Seed Balls
* Any type
of seed for the growing area may be used, but the use of
seeds of plants native to the area to be seed bombed is
highly recommended. Florida wildflower seeds may be
purchased from the
Florida Wildflowers Growers Cooperative in bulk or a
more limited selection is available in individual
packets. Please e-mail the Cooperative directly for
further information regarding purchasing Florida
Wildflower seeds.
The video below shows
another seed ball making technique:
Wildflower Planting
According to the
Florida Department of Transportation, Environmental
Management Office:
Under natural conditions, wildflower seed ripens and
is dispersed by wind and animals in late summer, fall,
and winter. Following the natural cycles for the
wildflower seed will produce the best germination the
next season. If the seed is planted at other times of
the year, the percentage of germination will be lowered
and the overall effect of the bloom period will be
greatly reduced.
Recommended planting
periods:
North Florida – November/December
Central Florida – December/January
South Florida – January
Planting Techniques:
Thin turf cover: Broadcast the wildflower seed
over the area then rake or drag the area to obtain
seed-to-soil contact.
Average turf cover: Scalp the turf to 1 inch,
remove the clippings, then
Broadcast the seed over the area and replace the
clippings evenly as a mulch.
A mechanized seed drill can be used without removing
the clippings.
Heavy turf cover: Herbicide and let the area sit
for 1 month. Scalp to 1 inch,
Then follow stop number 2. The establishment of
wildflowers is not recommended for areas of heavy
turf and areas of excessive weed infestation. The
use of a mechanized seed drill designed for planting
wildflowers produces the best results.
