Question
We have a forest property in Western Washington close to sea level. We would like to renew the construction site back to its forest state.  Can salal, oregon grape, and fern seeds be planted directly in the ground with any success.  We have planted some smaller plants already started for the critical areas. Seeds would be much less expensive for the larger areas so we are hoping this approach may work.

Answer
Hi Jim,
Thanx for your question.  You should be able to plant the seeds you mentioned and have varying degrees of success in getting them to germinate and grow in a natural environment.  If you take the time to nurture the seedlings and prevent weeds from choking them out, you should be successful.  I think the fern spores are probably the trickiest of the plants you mentioned.  I can't predict how successful you would be planting fern spores.  The oregon grape should do well after a winter treatment to break the dormancy of the seed.  Same thing for the salal.  If you were to simply scatter seeds, naturally, the success rate is going to be very low just as it is in nature.  Were every seed to germinate, the planet would be clogged with vegetation.  

Contact the Oregon Department of Forestry for assistance.  I'll bet they can provide you some expert assistance.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODF/privateforests/

I hope this helps.
Tom