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Alpine Zone (10,000 ft elevation and above) <br />Dormant Season - September 1-30 <br />Spring Seeding - not recommended <br />Summer Seeding - July 15 - August 15 <br />Wetland Areas** (under 6500 ft elevation) <br />Dormant Season - November through March <br />Spring Planting (live plant material) - April 1 - June 1 <br />**Wetland Areas is defined as areas that have either hydric <br />soils, free standing water, or water loving plants or a <br />combination of any of the three. Reclamation of wetland areas <br />require somewhat different practices than other sites. Planting <br />seed in wetland areas is probably the least successful method for <br />establishing vegetation. The most successful is to save the <br />existing native vegetation (e.g. rhizomes, tuber, organic soil, <br />etc.) and respread this material. This method is usually quite <br />successful on areas with short term construction (1 month or <br />less). Planting live plant material would be the best choice on <br />construction areas that require longer duration than one month. <br />HOW TO SEED: Drilling the grass seed is the best method. A <br />drill provides more uniform depth of planting and better soil-to- <br />seed contact. The suggested planting depth for grass seed ranges <br />from 0.5 to 1.5 cm (0.2 to 0.6 inches). The heavier the texture <br />of the soil the shallower the seed must be placed within the <br />suggested planting depth. Planting depths of 2.5 cm (approx. 1 <br />inch) or greater results in no grass emergence or plants that are <br />so weak survival is very poor. <br />Broadcasting the grass seed on the surface is a common practice <br />and can be fairly successful if done properly. Also hydro <br />seeding is used quite often on areas that are too steep for <br />conventional equipment. Both hydro seeding and broadcasting seed <br />on the soil surface requires twice the seeding rate per acre that <br />drilling grass seed requires. In addition, after the seed is <br />broadcast on the surface, the seed needs to be lightly mixed into <br />the soil with a harrow and then rolled with a roller or <br />cultipacker to obtain a firm soil surface and good seed-to-soil <br />contact. On steep slopes harrowing and/or rolling is not <br />possible. In these cases, tracked equipment run u~ and down the <br />slope will provide adequate seed incorporation and firming of the <br />seedbed. Make sure the entire area has track to track coverage. <br />MULCHES: Mulches can be a real benefit to aid in retaining <br />moisture. At this point, straw or weed free grass hay would be <br />the mulch of choice. However, it should be pointed out that the <br />seeding (hydro seeding) and the mulch operation is a separate <br />operation. These separate operations ensure good seed to soil <br />contact and adequate mulch coverage. The straw needs to be <br />crimped into the soil using a disk to prevent the mulch from <br />being blown away by wind. The disk should be set in a manner <br />(minimum or no disk angle) to minimize soil movement since <br />