Direct seeding is an artificial method of establishing a new crop of trees. Artificial means that the seed is brought to the site, not distributed naturally from trees on or around the area. Direct seeding is an option often overlooked by timberland owners when they consider regeneration options. Seeds should be selected from a region compatible with the planting site. The table below illustrates appropriate seed source for different regions.
| Species | For Planting | Use Seed From |
| Loblolly | Louisiana west of the Mississippi; southern Arkansas; eastern Texas; and southeastern Oklahoma. | Southeastern Texas |
| Southeastern Louisiana; southern two-thirds of Alabama and Georgia; and northwestern Florida. | "Livingston Parish, Louisiana; and Southeastern Mississippi" | |
| Southern two-thirds of Mississippi | Southwestern Mississippi | |
| Western Tennessee | "Northern Mississippi, northern Alabama and northern Georgia" | |
| Central and eastern Tennessee; Kentucky | Maryland and Virginia | |
| Ozarks | "Central Arkansas, northern Mississippi, and northern Alabama" | |
| North and South Carolina Coastal Plain | Coastal Plain of either state | |
| North and South Carolina Piedmont | Piedmont of either state | |
| Virginia; Maryland; and Delaware | Local sources preferred | |
| Northern Mississippi; northern Alabama; and northern Georgia | Northern Mississippi; northern Alabama and western Florida | |
| Longleaf | "Southern Mississippi; Alabama; western Florida; and 150 miles north & 250-300 miles east & west of Mobile, Alabama" | Southern Mississippi; southern Alabama; and western Florida |
| All other than above | Local sources only | |
| Sand | "Sand hills of northern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina" | Choctawhatchee variety |
| Shortleaf | Mississippi; central and southern sections of Alabama and Georgia; and southern South Carolina | "Southern Mississippi, southern Alabama, southern Georgia and northern Florida" |
| "Northern and central Mississippi; southern Arkansas, central Georgia, southern South Carolina, central Alabama and southeastern North Carolina" | Northern Arkansas; northern Alabama; northern Georgia; northwestern South Carolina; central and western Tennessee; and central and northeastern North Carolina | |
| Missouri; eastern Kentucky; eastern Tennessee; eastern West Virginia; Virginia; and farther north | Local sources only | |
| Eastern Texas; western and northern Louisiana; southern Arkansas; and eastern Oklahoma | "Eastern Texas, western and northern Louisiana; southern Arkansas, and eastern Oklahoma" | |
| Slash | North and West of the natural range | "Natural stands in Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, South Carolina, and southeastern Georgia" |
| Anywhere within or near natural range | "Natural stands anywhere north or west of Lake City, Florida or plantations of similar provenance" | |
| Virginia Pine | Within natural range | Local source preferred |
| White Pine (Eastern) | "Appalachian areas of Georgia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia" | Local or southern source |
Advantages of Direct Seeding
Lower Initial Cost
The most notable advantage of direct seeding is the lower initial cost as compared to planting seedlings. The cost of direct seeding is usually one-third to one-half of the cost of planting seedlings. The reasons for the reduced cost are primarily in three categories: (1) seed is usually less expensive than seedlings, (2) labor costs are less, and (3) site-preparation costs are normally lower. The majority of the cost savings is in the latter two categories, and it is important to remember that these cost savings are for the initial work only.
Easier To Use in Remote Areas
Another advantage is that direct seeding is easier to use in remote or inaccessible areas. Although most of the forest land in the South is more easily accessible than some land in western states, there are areas where it is difficult to move equipment, supplies, and labor. In those situations, it is easier to broadcast seed by hand or from the air than to plant seedlings.
Root Systems of Trees are Natural
The root systems of trees that develop from direct seeding are considered natural. When seedlings are planted, the root system may be distorted or end up in an "L-shape" or "J-shape" if the planting hole is not deep enough. A distorted root system reduces the growth of the seedling, and shallow planting usually reduces the survival rate of the trees.
Timing Is Important
You can cover large areas quickly, especially when direct seeding is done aerially. Also, there is a longer time span to complete the work. Seedlings must be planted while they are still dormant and when the planting site is cool and moist. Depending on the species, direct seeding can be done in the fall or the spring with many more days available to complete the seeding.
Sow longleaf pines in the fall (before mid-December) or in the early spring. Sow loblolly, shortleaf, and slash pines in mid and late spring. Generally, oak acorns are sown successfully at any time and establish best when sown 2" deep. One last advantage of direct seeding that relates to timing is the quick response following a fire, flood, or other natural disaster.
Disadvantages of Direct Seeding
Reduced Control of Spacing and Stocking
The most notable disadvantage of direct seeding is reduced control over spacing and stocking (number of trees). The number of seed sown is based on assumptions of survival. It is always possible too many trees will survive, resulting in an overcrowded situation that usually requires a precommercial thinning to correct. Precommercial thinning literally involves cutting or in some way killing part of the trees so others can grow better.
The opposite situation is also true, and survival may not be adequate to stock an area fully with trees. In this situation, supplemental seed sowing is required to get enough trees to occupy the site fully.
Either corrective measure costs money, and money saved in the initial costs could be lost. Even when survival rates are acceptable, the spacing of the trees is not as uniform as in planted seedling areas, and cultural operations throughout the rotation are not as easily accomplished, especially those requiring moving equipment across the area.
The problem of spacing is worse on steep slopes where seed are washed downhill after rainfall, resulting in loss of seed and highly uneven distribution. For these reasons, direct seeding is not recommended for steep slopes.
High Mortality in Droughty Soils
Another disadvantage of direct seeding is the high mortality rate on extremely droughty sites, especially sandy soils. During the first month after germination, the root system of the seedling is still near the soil surface. If the soil dries out excessively, the tiny seedling dies, so direct seeding is not recommended for excessively droughty areas.
Longer Rotations and Lower Yields
When compared to plantations of planted seedlings, areas that have been directly seeded usually require longer rotations and produce lower merchantable yields. This may or may not be a disadvantage, depending on an economic analysis of initial and subsequent costs, goals of ownership, and financial ability of the owner. Growing trees is much like growing most other crops in that the more money that is put into management, the bigger and better the final yield up to a certain point. However, a good crop of timber can be grown in stands that are started by direct seeding.
Appropriate Sites for Direct Seedings
Basically, any site you can plant with seedlings can also be directly seeded. The only exceptions are the excessively droughty areas previously discussed.
The three types of areas where direct seeding has the greatest application are these: (1) remote or inaccessible sites (previously discussed), (2) poor or low productivity sites where growth of the trees would not make the cost of planting operations economically feasible, and (3) any area of land where a minimal investment is absolutely essential.
The last category is perhaps the most important because many timberland owners cannot afford the cost of intensive site preparation and planting. It is better to direct seed these areas rather than to allow them to grow up "naturally," which usually results in mostly undesirable species and in brush taking over the area.
