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How to Make a Seed Bomb

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Learn All About Seed Bombs, Guerilla Gardening and Community Beautification!

Seed bombs are a wonderful tool to add plants to your community. They are cheap and easy to make. Read on to learn more about this interesting concept and how to use it in your community to brighten up abandoned lots, empty patches of land or other spaces.

What is a Seed Bomb?

Seed bombs, or seed grenades, are used to grow plants in areas that are abandoned or off-limits. Sometimes the use of seed bombs is referred to as "guerilla gardening." They are usually made out of a mixture of clay soil, compost and seeds in a 5:1:1 ratio with water to bind. There are other variations, however, as will be explained below.

History of Seed Bombs

(Photo by WikiCommons user Desmanthus4food)

Seed bombs, or "seed grenades", were developed by Liz Christy in New York City in 1973. This was the beginning of the guerrilla gardening movement. Seed grenades were tossed into empty lots to make neighborhoods look better. Seed bombs are similar in effect to a practice called aerial reforestation. In the 1930s, for example, planes were used to drop seeds over mountains in Hawaii after a forest fire.

Types of Seed Bombs

  • Clay seed ball
  • Guerilla Grenades from glass ornaments
  • Commercially prepared seed bombs
  • Seed eggs
  • Seed balloons
  • Seed pills
  • Seeds in biodegradable planters

Bloom Ball Kits on Amazon

Everything you need to make your own seed bombs!
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More Sites with Seed Bomb Instructions

Check out these web pages for more information on making your own seed bombs.
Instructables
Seed bomb making instructions on Instructables.
L.A. Times
Seed bomb making instructions on the L.A. Times.
Guerilla Gardening
In-depth site with some great photos and information on guerilla gardening in general.
Seed Bomb Instructions from 1973
Includes ideas for what seeds to plant depending on the season.
Lush Guerilla Gardening
Instructions for making a seed bomb with illustrations and more information on guerilla gardening.
Green Museum Highlight on Artist Kathryn Miller
Includes photos of seed bombing at a Raytheon plant.

Great Guerilla Gardening How-to Books on Amazon

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Instructional Videos on YouTube

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Guerilla and Urban Gardening Photos on Flickr

Get inspiration for your own gardening efforts!
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Gardening Books for Starting at Home

Not ready to dive into guerilla gardening just yet? Check out these books for tips on gardening in your own backyard.
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Seed Bomb Tips and Tricks

(Photo by Wiki Commons user Überraschungsbilder)

-Try to use seeds local to the area which you are bombing.
-Try choosing plants that are hardy and can resist temperature changes, water shortages, and pedestrian trampling.

Have you tried making seed bombs? Have any tips to share?

  • TheMummyNextDoor Apr 20, 2012 @ 1:49 pm | delete
    Clay bombs take a bit to break down, so watch out for that! I'm a keen guerilla gardener, nb. take part in the annual sunflower planting campaign on May 1st. Check it out http://www.facebook.com/events/351385628215627/ x
  • flycatcher Dec 20, 2011 @ 9:35 am | delete
    I never heard of seed bombs before, but it's something of a family tradition to collect wildflower seeds and redistribute them in suburban waste areas, to increase the forage available to honey bees in a concrete wasteland - does that count? :)
  • Aug 17, 2011 @ 9:38 am | delete
    I never heard of this concept before, pretty cool! Great covert way to green up an area.
    N T T
  • WordCustard Jan 17, 2011 @ 2:00 pm | delete
    Well this is something new.. I'd never heard of a seed bomb before! It's a fun idea.
  • SmartChica Jan 6, 2011 @ 8:15 pm | delete
    I have never heard of seed bombs. However, years ago when I lived in an old Victorian neighborhood, we use to guerilla rescue lilies and bulb plants at abandon houses and lots. They would have been lost in remodeling or clearing of the land so we would spot them on walks and then go at night or dusk and dig them up and replant them at occupied homes (with the permission of the owners of course).
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