*Gardening with Mary
A Bi-Weekly Column by:
Mary Strayer, Master Gardener, Firelands Garden Club
Questions? Email Mary at rmstrayer@msn.com
Be Frugal, Look for Tree Seeds
Fall is winding down now here in northern Ohio, and while walking through leaves in parks, and yes even in my own yard, I discovered seeds for various trees. Consider picking up a few, and trying to start new trees for next year's garden.
Starting seeds for trees is an exciting adventure, and can be really rewarding. It can save you money in the long run and you or even perhaps your grandchildren will have fun watching the seeds grow.
Many woody seeds (tree and shrub seeds) are dormant when you find them on the ground, or even still attached to the tree. Some must take in water to begin the germination process, and some seeds actually have built in methods to stop the process. Trees and shrubs do this as a survival process, meaning they have an internal process that allows the seed to germinate when growing conditions are right for the seed to survive. Not all seeds germinate the same year.
If the seed has a very hard surface, you may need to scarify (scratch or nick) the seed, thus begin breaking down the hard coating to allow water and oxygen into the seed to begin the germination process. This is done in nature by the seed falling and hitting the ground, and with the freeze and thaw process of the winter.
Some seeds on the other hand have to be out in the cold winter weather to know when to start the germination process in the spring. Red Horse Chestnut is a tree that I have seen grown successfully and easy in our area. Simply pick up the seeds, keep them cold all winter, and plant them come spring where they can grow. They usually grow a foot or a bit more in one season.