Hi! Liz, Briefly: Heavily graze the land to be direct seeded for two years, during seed set, to reduce seed level. Most sites are sprayed with Roundup after the germination of the grasses to reduce competition for water. (I am trying vinegar/ lemon juice, as mentioned on this list earlier.) We tend to seed in early spring as earlier the young plants may get too wet. The seeder we use has been developed over twenty years and by several people adding their ideas. It is basically a ripper on the three point linkage of a Fordson 5000, with two blades, which skim the weeds and seeds aside. There are two revolving seed drums, each with two sections. The seed is dropped onto the rip line and also to the side. A press wheel follows and the seeding mechanism is belt driven from it, so when the ripper is lifted, the whole thing stops. We use fifty to eighty varieties between the four seed dispensers on any one site. Some times it is necessary to spray for red legged earth mite or like. It seems to work better later rather than too early. NB we have a Mediterranean type climate with most of our rain in winter/ spring with dry summer.
Gil Liz Davis wrote: > Hi Gil, James et al, > > The work you are doing sounds very interesting Gil. I've been asked by my > local landcare group to follow up the lack of success of direct drilling > native tree seeds into paddocks.
