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RE: Sawdust for seed dilution?

Title: RE: Sawdust for seed dilution?

At Shaw Nature Reserve, we regularly use sawdust and shavings from untreated wood as diluents for sowings in both prairie and woodland restoration work, and have seen no evidence of inhibition of germination. At the rate of a few dozen or hundred particles per square foot, sawdust is unlikely to have any deleterious effect, though I would second the caution against using sawdust from pressure-treated wood.

Slightly moistened sawdust makes an excellent carrier for seed mixes  intended to be sown by hand, e.g. by groups of staff and volunteers. The sawdust "homogenizes" mixes containing seeds with a variety of shapes, sizes and fluffiness. Dilution rates (loosely, by volume) can vary depending on the size of the area to be sowed: 1 to 1 for small areas, up to 5 (or more) to 1 for large acreages. The largest sowing we've done this way consisted of 15 fifty-gallon barrels of 4 to 1 mix containing 150 pounds (about 80 species) of seed. This was applied to an 11-acre area in December 1999. After keeping the area mowed through summer 2000 and mowing once again early in the growing season of 2001, the area now supports a thriving young prairie planting in its second dormancy.

James C. Trager
Shaw Nature Reserve

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Schneider [t*@offo2.epa.state.oh.us]
Sent: Wednesday, December 19, 2001 7:45 AM
To: prairie@hort.net
Subject: Re: Sawdust for seed dilution?


I think if your using it just as a carrier when dispersing seed, sawdust
should be fine.  You wont be putting down enough of it to have much of an
affect on soil chemistry.  I just would make sure you dont get sawdust
from anyone cutting pressure treated wood.  The chemicals used in wood
treatment can be persistent and might inhibit growth.

The DOTs have been hydroseeding for years.  The wood fiber used in that
is just fancy sawdust and they coat the area with it.

Best of Luck
Tom

--
Tom Schneider, Fernald Project Manager
Ohio EPA
Office of Federal Facilities Oversight
tschneid@offo2.epa.state.oh.us
http://offo2.epa.state.oh.us/FERNALD/fernald.htm


Keith Nowakowski wrote:

> Does anyone know of a reason why sawdust should not be
> used to dilute prairie seed for broadcast planting?  -
> some have recommended perlite - but that's expensive
> and persistent, sand is also mentioned, but that's
> heavy. Sawdust is free and light, but some have said
> that there may be chemical inhibitors in the sawdust
> -Have there been any studies done on what is the best
> substrate?? Is any substrate preferable?
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