How to make Seed Balls aka Seed Bombs

In todays article we will look into What is a seed ball or a seed bomb and what is the purpose of making these seed balls. We will also learn how to make your own DIY seed balls which is a great fun activity for kids and even adults.

1. What is a Seed Ball?

A seed ball also known as seed bomb, earth ball, clay dumpings and so on, is actually an ancient technique to keep the seeds safe until conditions are favourable for germination and also they are a very convenient seed dispersal mechanism to plant trees everywhere – that’s called guirella gardening. Usually they are thrown along side the road soil to grow trees for greenery and protect our mother earth.

2. What is the composition of  Seed Ball?

A seed ball is usually a mixture of clay and compost, and then dried, ofcourse with a seed preplanted into it. Cotton-fibres  are sometimes mixed into the clay to make it more strong specially when you throw them harshly.

3. How many seeds to be included in one Seed Ball?

Generally one or two are sufficient, the second seed is just a back up if incase the first fails to germinate. On the other hand a seed bomb contains many seeds for dispersal but adding too many seeds into one seed ball may result in over crowding and failure to thrive and the resulting plants may not do well. Some times these seed bombs are used for aerial reforestation techniques.

4. What is the size of a seed ball?

Nothing fixed but generally they can be between 10mm to 80 mm depending on the size and number of of the seeds.

5. DIY Seed Balls:
You can make your own DIY seed balls or seed bombs. It’s a great fun activity for kids. They will really enjoy this on a Sunday in a park or on a picnic.  You can also explain them the importance of trees and oxygen plus the environmental and the health benefits of gardening.

Just carry some clayey soil from your garden mixed with some vermicompost and ofcourse some seeds. Any seeds will do. If you have special seeds of some larger trees, thats really good.  Take this mixture of soil and compost in your hand and sprinkle some water and roll it into a ball or carefull add water into the whole container and make it like a dough and then roll into a ball and then insert a seed into it by making a depression and then roll it back into a ball .Optionally wrap this with a thin layer of toilet paper and keep it for drying.

6. Ready to Purchase Seed Balls:


https://amzn.to/2NIoVXe

These are some ready made seed balls available online. These are for larger trees. Make sure you do not throw these on some useful farming or agricultural lands. Choose a right spot, where you think a tree is required, like for example alongside the road where there are not enough trees. Or on a large open no mans land or even a play ground specially around the boundaries if there are no trees around. 


7. What is the right time or season to use these seed balls.

Though best time is early spring, you can disperse them in any season including winter. Better avoid in hot summer.

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