Conservation districts provide pollinator seeds

Free seed mixes were handed out through the month of May by the Eastern Sanders County Conservation District and the Green Mountain Conservation District as part of the Sanders County Pollinator Initiative. Emily Baker and Morgan Owens were at the Trout Creek location on May 21 to give bags of flower seeds to interested residents. "This mix is specially selected for Western Montana and includes flowers of all shapes and sizes," Baker said. "Not only will this seed mix provide beautiful flowers and other native plant species, it will also increase pollinator habitat in Sanders County," she added.

"Pollinators are busy creatures that provide a vital ecosystem service to plants and animals alike. They have a large economic benefit to the agriculture industry, since pollination is not possible without them," Baker said.

"The mix includes 19 species of seeds. They are drought tolerant and low maintenance," Owens said. "But it is best to germinate them by soaking overnight before planting and water regularly until they are established," she recommended. The list of 19 seed species includes perennials and annuals that are commonly seen growing wild in Sanders County, such as the arrowleaf balsamroot.

Frequently asked questions include when to plant. Baker suggests for non-irrigated sites, seed before May 15 or after October 15. Irrigated sites can be planted up until June 15 or after September 1. The plants should have full sunlight. Though the seed mix should grow in a variety of soil conditions, the suggested approach is to amend poor soil.

The key to a successful plot is seeding into a clean bed with no existing weeds or other plants, district guidelines suggest. For site preparation it is recommended that the existing species be removed by mowing, burning, tillage or herbicides, if you do not need a chemical free plot. Tilling can be done two to three times in a chemical free zone in the spring, or existing vegetation can be controlled by solarization. Place a clear plastic tarp over the area to allow the sun's heat to kill weeds and grass. This is best done during summer heat for fall planting.

The seed mix is designed to attract all kinds of pollinators including bees, butterflies, and moths. Plots contain numerous flower species with different bloom times that provide food throughout the season, according to the district's question and answer guidelines.

"June is National Pollinator Month," Owens said. She plans to host an educational event in partnership with the Thompson Falls Library. Baker estimated their seed give away to be around five or six acres worth of seeds to 200 people in their six locations between Hot Springs and Noxon.