Why are some lawns seeds coated?
The Benefits of Seed Coatings:
Improved Ballistics
By adding weight, size and smoothness to each seed, the ease of spreading is improved, helping to get a more uniform ground coverage.
Nutrients for Establishment
The latest coating includes a range of nutrients designed to supply the young seedling until it’s root system can tap into fertiliser or soil nutrients.
Seedling Protection
Application of fungicides and insecticides in seed coatings is the most cost effective and accurate method for controlling diseases and pests during seedling establishment.
Germination Improvements
Recent trials have shown coatings to enhance the speed and strength of germination in some turf species. By holding the moisture close to the seed, the seed is able to get away and establish more quickly.
Guaranteed Quality
Only the best seed lines are used for seed coating and a further guarantee of quality all seed is germination tested immediately after coating.
Not all seed coatings are equal… here’s three tips for help you assess the quality of the coating on your seed:
1. Quality seed coatings are virtually dust free and should firmly encapsulate each seed individually. Coatings should not be crumbly or cracked.
2. Although the seed coating feels firm, the polymers used to bind the pellet together should be bery soluble, allowing rapid breakdown and germination. A good indication of the speed of breakdown of the seed coating can be shown by placing a small number of seeds in a saucer of water. The coating should break away from the seed within several minutes, indicating moisture has penetrated through the seed. Some of the older style coating were known to bind the seed to tightly, restricting germination.
3. Coating should deliver maximum value to the end-user, not just additional weight. A well formed pellet containing pesticides, nutrient and other additives will enhance the end result significantly.