Make Your Own Seed Balls

Planting seeds can be as easy and enjoyable as making mud pies! Use seed balls to make plant clusters and ensure your seeds are distributed exactly where you intended.

By Kate Carter Frederick
Read step by step instructions after the video.

Clay soil is the bane of many gardeners, but there's at least one good thing you can do with the sticky stuff—make seed balls. The process is simple and fun as patting mud into delectable fantasies or rolling modeling clay into snakes. Making seed balls entails mixing a few easy-to-grow seeds with pinches of soft clay and shaping little balls.

Seed balls make it easier to plant seeds, especially if you're sowing small seeds that are difficult to see and handle. Coating seeds with clay also protects them from being washed away by rain or eaten by birds. Use one finished seed ball per small container, or use the balls to plant clusters of annuals in a garden.

  • Working time 20 mins
  • Start to finish 2 days
  • Difficulty Easy
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What you need

Tools
Materials
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How to do it

Step 1

Create Clay Mixture

If you don't have clay soil in your area, start with dried clay from a local ceramics supplier or online source. Mix two parts dried clay with one part compost. Add enough water to make it a soft and malleable consistency.

See also

How to Evaluate Your Soil

Good soil is essential to your garden's success. Learn about the different types of soil and then determine the best way to improve each. Soil testing may help you better identify any issues.

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Step 2

Mix Clay Thoroughly

Mix the clay with your hands or stir it until it is the proper consistency for rolling. If your clay is too runny, add dried clay. If your clay is too stiff, add water.

Step 3

Roll Clay Balls

Roll the soft clay between your palms to form walnut-sized balls (about 1 inch in diameter). Place finished balls on a tray.

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Step 4

Press In Seeds

Press 20-30 seeds into each clay ball. Reshape the ball, working the seeds into the clay. Set the balls on a rack to dry for several days in a warm, airy place. Store away from heat and moisture.

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Step 5

Plant Seed Balls

Once seed balls are dry, plant in desired location. Due to the nature of seed balls, you'll end up with clusters of plants when they start to germinate. Add plant markers to seed ball locations if desired.

Watch

Cut Garden Costs by Starting Seeds Indoors

Starting seeds indoors in winter is the inexpensive way to grow more of your favorite plants. Here's what you need to know to make your seeds blossom.

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