Seed Balls |
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Seed balls are a method for distributing seeds by encasing them in a mixture of clay and soil humus. Some native North American tribes used forms of seed balls. More recently natural farmer Masanobu Fukuoka has applied them, as have others inspired by his work.
Seed balls are simply scattered direct onto ground, and not planted. They could be useful for seeding dry, thin and compacted soils and for reclaiming derelict ground. This method takes a fraction of the time or cost of other methods to cover large areas and is also very applicable in small areas.
The clay and humus ball prevents the seeds from the drying out in the sun, getting eaten by predators like mice and birds, or from blowing away. When sufficient rain has permeated the clay and the seeds inside sprout they are protected within the ball that contains nutrients and beneficial soil microbes. Seed balls are particularly useful in dry and arid areas where rainfall is highly unpredictable.
INGREDIENTS OF SEED BALLS Seed Mixtures Mixtures are used for experimentation, some things will fail to establish themselves; those that succeed will be the most suitable for that location. Much can be learned by observation of results. The making of seed balls is very easy, but choosing the right species to include is not so obvious and the introduction of non-native species should always be carried out with thought and care. Clay Soil Making seed balls Application rate Watering
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