Many plants have adapted themselves to their harsh environment by making their seeds extremely tough with hard seedcoats. In nature, the elements such as rain, freezing and thawing and microorganisms word on the seedcoat over time to soften it up. Thus, depending on conditions, some seeds will germinate the first year while others from the same crop will wait to the second or third year or longer. This assures that at least a part of the seed crop will germinate under desirable conditions and survive.

The root of the word, scarification, is scar. This signifies that by some artificial means, the thick, hard seedcoat is scarred and opened up so that water may penetrate and germination may begin.

1. Mechanical Treatment - This involves using some type of sharp or rasping instrument to break through the seedcoat. A nail file, knife or sand paper may be used to notch or open up the coat to allow water to penetrate easily.
    

2. Hot Water Treatment - This treatment consists of pouring hot water (around 190 degrees F) onto the seeds in a container. Then, the seeds are allowed to soak in the water as it cools over night. Generally, the amount of water used should be at least 6 times the volume of the seeds so that it stays hot for a long time. Plant the seeds immediately after completing the process i.e. the next morning.
    

3. Acid Bath - Commercially, seeds are often soaked in sulfuric acid to soften the seedcoat. Generally, since this involves a highly corrosive liquid, the home propagator should avoid using this process unless they have professional guidance available.

• Budding
• Cuttings
• Grafting
• Hosta Propagation

• Layering
• Seed Dormancy
• Using Old Seeds

• Starting Seeds
• Seed Treatments
• Tissue Culture

Note: We have provided some general information and observations on this topic aimed at the home gardener. Before you take any serious action in your landscape, check with your state's land grant university's Cooperative Extension Service for the most current, appropriate, localized recommendations.