‘Tis the season for flower-bombing

Ah, spring is in the air! Not only has all the snowmelt revealed eight months worth of litter and uncleaned-up dog poop, but the garden centres are open at your local big box store, and soon enough, weeds will have taken over your nearest vacant lot.

It’s time for seed bombs!

I wrote a column about the concept last year, and I’m totally gung-ho about doing it this year. The concept is simple: take seeds and soil and clay, and form them into little, miniature easy-to-throw balls, then toss them into places that could use more or better plants.

Here’s a short video that explains the basic concept:

I’ve done some research on the subject, and what’s really important is that you pick the right seed mixture. Try to find plants and flowers that are locally appropriate. It’s also important to use the right clay. This website suggests using red potter’s clay — terracotta clay — and not pre-mixed, either. (That link — as well as this one — also have a pretty good recipe explanation, if you like.)

Mixed with compost, the clay protects and nourishes the seeds as they sprout, and by the time rain breaks down the seed bombs, the plants should be well on their way to germination. Seed bombs are noted for producing stronger, healthier plants than other methods. And, they’re dead-easy to sew — since they’re already “planted” in the seed bomb, you can just leave them on the surface.

See here for a recipe from 1973 that uses fertilizer and peat moss instead of compost and clay. But because this recipe relies on old glass Christmas tree ornaments, water balloons or even condoms to protect the sprouting seeds, I don’t recommend it.

I suspect trial-and-error is the best way to learn, but if you’re really interested, here’s a half-hour video that takes you through the whole process.

I watched it, and I learned quite a bit. First of all, for an effective reclamation project (ie. you want natural grasses to take over a place that is barren, with compacted soil) you need at least one seed bomb per square foot. However, if you just want to beautify things, use your judgment.

The clay balls also help to protect seeds from predators like ants, birds and mice, so you get better results than if you’re just scattering seeds. According to the video, those predators can take up to 80% of seeds that are broadcast on the ground in the traditional manner.

If you’re really worried about ants, you can also use some red chili powder, catnip, pennyroyal or peppermint in the seed bombs to deter them.

So who wants to go seed-bombing with me?