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Reclamation can sometimes be difficult in
droughty environments such as excavation sites. It's for this reason that a
considerable amount of research has been conducted in New Hampshire relative to
different seed mixes and methods of planting that would yield the best chance
for successful reclamation efforts. Mr. Ted Kelsey, now retired from the USDA
Soils Conservation Service, was in the forefront of experimenting with a wide
variety of seed mixes within test plots scattered around the State.
The primary resource that illustrates the
knowledge gained by decades of reclamation research is
Vegetating New Hampshire Sand & Gravel Pits.
Generally, cool season grass mixes are used to
reclaim depleted areas that have at least 4"-6" of topsoil available for the
seedbed. Mix 2 & 3 in the
Vegetating New Hampshire Sand & Gravel Pits booklet are examples of
this type of seed mix. Warm season grasses, on the other hand, can be planted on
depleted area having little or no topsoil. The process of seeding is different,
as illustrated in the second photo album.
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