Small seeds. A strong start.

Small seed deserves careful handling. A few checks at the seeder can help you put the right amount in the right place.

Pour a little grass seed into your hand and it is easy to see why planting deserves care. The seed is light, the shapes vary and a small change in equipment settings can affect how it feeds.

Before filling the hopper, get the label and planting instructions in front of you. Confirm the species, the recommended rate and whether that rate is expressed as bulk seed or pure live seed. If the wording is unfamiliar, ask your seed supplier to explain the calculation for that product.

Measure before you load

Use the area you will actually plant when working out how much seed to buy. Subtract lanes, wooded edges and other ground outside the planting. Keep acres and square feet clearly separated in your notes.

Then write down the intended rate and the total quantity needed. Having both numbers on paper gives you a useful check when you start planting.

Calibrate with the seed you will use

A setting from a previous job is only a starting point. Follow the equipment manufacturer's calibration procedure with the current seed lot, and check the amount delivered over a measured area or test run.

Do that before committing the whole field. It is easier to correct an output problem with most of the seed still in the bag.

Check below the surface

Stop after a short pass and uncover a few seeds. Compare their actual placement with the depth recommended for the species and soil. Check more than one spot, particularly where the surface or residue changes.

Small forage seeds can struggle when buried too deeply. A firm seedbed helps the equipment place seed more consistently and brings it into contact with the soil moisture needed for germination.

Keep the label, final settings and planting date together. When you walk the field after emergence, you can compare the result with what you did instead of trying to remember the details.

Have a question before planting? Give Central Wisconsin Seed the seed name, area and equipment you plan to use so the conversation starts with the right information.