The Forest Seeding Method

The first plants which covered the earth chose to reproduce through seeding, and this is still true of nearly all plants which we can find today. However, for more than 100 years new trees have been planted in our forests.

Although in some cases there may be practical reasons for this, on the whole, however, the method of planting trees has a number of disadvantages compared with the distinct advantages of natural forest regeneration and forest seeding.

In the aftermath of the hurricanes “Vivian” and “Wibke” in 1990 it became apparent for forestry and foresters that many of the trees which had been blown down had only developed surprisingly shallow roots. As a direct consequence of this discovery the LWF (Bavarian Forestry Department) started a 12-year large scale research program to closely observe the root development of over 5,800 trees which had been planted. As a comparison over 7,500 roots of 30 to 40-year-old self-sown or seeded trees were dug up and examined. The result was unequivocal – the unexpectedly shallow and deformed roots of the windthrow trees could be traced back to those trees which had been planted.

- Seeded oak forest -

Forest seeding is a natural and sustainable alternative. The relatively small number of planted trees contrasts with the considerably larger number of seedlings which develop naturally and which have the best possible starting conditions. Within a few years a real thicket of sturdy, healthy trees develops and natural selection ensures that later the best of them grow into a fine, enduring and natural forest.

From seed to forest - Nature's way