Planning / FAQ
Planning Questions
What you need to know before you call us.
You may know exactly what you want, but if you need some guidance to make an informed decision, we can help. We will best be able to help steer you in the right direction if you can provide us with the following information:
- Dryland or irrigated?
- What is the approximate altitude?
- Drilled or broadcast seed application?
- Area to be planted? (# of sq. ft. or acres)
- Special considerations? (slope, special soils etc.)
- Ground preparation?
- PLS # or Bulk?
What does PLS vs. Bulk mean?
PLS stands for Pure Live Seed. In any one bulk pound of seed there may be some inert material, other crop seed, etc. Also in that bulk pound there are some seeds that are not going to grow, perhaps they were harvested too soon or the growing conditions damaged seed as it was forming. So you have a germination rate below 100%. If you multiply the purity x the germination rate, it equals the percentage of Pure Live Seed (PLS). For seeding applications where getting the right amount of seed in the ground is critical—such as in reclamation reseeding, it is standard practice to purchase seed on a PLS basis guaranteeing the total amount of viable seed you expect for the job. But for most applications, a bulk seeding rate the standard.
Keeping your seed healthy.
Seed remains viable for many years if you can store it in a cool dry place. So if your plans to plant the lawn are disrupted because you won the lottery—don’t worry. Store the seed for a year and start again. Our tags give you a lot of information about the health of your seed including how much is pure and what the germination rate is.
Where Does Your Seed Come From?
Most seed companies purchase all their seed from other companies and from growers. They are removed from the growing experience even if they have highly qualified staff to help you with your needs. Southwest Seed is similar to a small handful of other seed companies in that we have our own farm where we grow approximately 40 different species of grasses and forbs (wildflowers) each year.
We purchase seed from other growers to make up the full complement of our seed offerings: local genotypes, cover crops, native vs. introduced, dryland vs. irrigated, etc.
How Long Will it Take for My Seed to Grow?
Growing plants and Mother Nature
Southwest Seed sells high quality seed documented by lab analysis. However, it takes good planting techniques, water, good soil and Mother Nature all working together to produce the lawn, pasture or wildflower stand of your dreams.
How to Buy
Contact us Direct
Looking to buy seed? Just have questions? Contact us by phone, email or our come into our Dolores, CO location. We can also ship directly to you. A minimum order of 1 lb applies, except for flower seeds.
