Seed balls

I figured I would start the ol' blog writing again with a "how to" post. I've been asked how to make seed balls and I haven't found a demonstration I like, so I've written this one instead.

Seed balls are an easy way to repopulate the world with flowers and plants.  You can put them anywhere and they provide an easy solution to long hours of attempting to get things growing.  Once you've made your seed balls, put 'em where you want things to grow.  Some people throw them out of their windows as they drive but you must remember that city lands are mowed and property owners generally don't appreciate your gardening on their land.  However, if you know of an empty lot that is filled with weeds and is never mowed, by all means, throw out some seed balls!

Let's get started. To make your seed balls you'll need:

Compost
Clay
Water
Seeds

I bought some cotton burr compost for mine, which wasn't the smartest thing to do since it had lots of sticks in it.  It doesn't really matter what kind of compost you choose; it's best to sift it anyway.  Some people use clay soil for their seed balls but I don't like to do that because it isn't "clean."  I got my clay at Trinity Ceramic, which is local, but you can also order from them online. Really, though, there's probably some place close to you that has clay. As for the seeds, be sure to choose things that are not invasive.  People make fun of me for being so militant about using invasive species, but it's quite important.  If you'd like a lesson in how important it is, come to my house and help me battle ivy.  The previous owner of our house planted two English ivies that will not die, no matter what I throw at them.  So, go native!

Now that you've gotten your materials together, it's time to start making your balls. hehe, balls. (I am such a child) Here are the steps with some crappy Iphone pictures.

1. Sift, sift, sift your compost.  It should be powdery and look gorgeous.  You might want to spend a minute or two or ten admiring it before you go on to step two.  Pretty, isn't it?  I use cups to measure my ingredients, but you can use whatever.  You're going to need three parts sifted compost. 

The finished product should look something like this:

 Preeeeetty.



2. Measure out 5 parts clay. 

3. Stir the compost and clay together.  Don't be alarmed that you can't see any more of the gorgeous compost.  I mean, you can be sad, just don't be alarmed.

4. Add 1 to 2 parts water.  I just pour some in with a watering can.  Go slowly because you don't want the mix to be too wet.  Mix the water in, getting to a wet-ish consistency.  It should stick together and not crumble but not be so wet that you can't roll it into balls. 

Busted for doing this in my jammies and slippers!

Here's a perfect consistency:

5.  Pick up a bit and squish it together.  Roll it in your hands like we used to do with Play-doh when we were kids.  Make a thumbprint in the middle for your seeds. 

6.  This is where I diverge from others on seeds balls: I like to add the seeds to each ball rather than mixing them into the compost/clay/water because you have more control over the ratio.  It takes a bit more time but I think it's better.  So, add some seeds to the thumbprint.

7. Squish it together over the seeds.

 8. Squeeze, squeeze, squeeze!  This is difficult for those with arthritic hands, I know.

9. Pretend you're in kindergarten and roll that ball until it's the desired shape.

10. Place in a tray or whatever and allow the balls to dry at least 24 hours.  It's best to let them dry in the sun but it's not mandatory. 


You can put the balls out at any time but I prefer to put them out when the rains start.  You don't need to water them; the rain will take care of everything.  You may need to thin the seedlings once they get to about 2-inches, but that's not always going to be the case. Just make sure they aren't crowding each other out and stunting their growth. 

Enjoy!