Growing Trees From Seed

At a glance..

Most tree species are unique in their requirements for seed germination. Seed maturation, handling, storage, dormancy, stratification and germination are different for many species. This publication gives a short overview of these processes and lists the germination requirements for particular woody species or groups of species.

The details..

"Growing Trees from Seed" by Wayne K. Clatterbuck is an informative guide to successfully grow trees from seed, especially when commercial saplings are not available. The book covers essential topics such as handling seeds through ripening, collecting, processing, storage (if needed), dormancy stratification and germination.

The author emphasizes that most tree species have unique requirements for successful germination which include different methods of maturation, handling, storage and stratification. This publication gives readers an insight into these processes with specific attention given to individual woody species or groups of them.

Seed collection timing is crucial; some seeds disperse quickly in wind while others are attractive to birds and mammals so monitoring their maturity is important before they fall off naturally or get consumed by animals. Processing fleshy fruits like berries can be challenging but maceration followed by separation using water helps extract the seeds effectively without damaging them.

Finally, this book explains how controlling moisture levels during pre-storage care plays a vital role in storing overwintered seeds at low temperatures until sowing time arrives in springtime. It also highlights the three types of dormancy: internal physical & combination thereof exhibited by certain types of seed which need special treatment before they can be made ready for planting.