Definition

1. Verb:
   • To sow seed again on (an area of land): The action of planting seeds on the same ground a subsequent time.
   • To sow itself again (used of a plant): The process by which a plant produces and disperses seeds that grow into new plants without human intervention.

Usage

• The verb reseed is used to describe the action of planting seeds again, either by a person or by a plant itself. It is often used in agricultural, gardening, and ecological contexts.
• It can be used transitively (with a direct object, e.g., ) or intransitively/reflexively (e.g., ).

Examples

• Transitive use (human agent):
  • After the drought, the farmer had to reseed the entire pasture.
  • We plan to reseed the bare patches in the lawn this autumn.
• Intransitive/Reflexive use (plant agent):
  • These wildflowers reseed readily, ensuring a beautiful display year after year.
  • The plant will reseed itself if you allow the flowers to go to seed.

Advanced Usage

• Ecological Context: In restoration ecology, certain native species are chosen because they reseed effectively, helping to stabilize an ecosystem.
  • The goal is to establish a plant community that will reseed and maintain itself.
• Agricultural Practice: Refers to a specific method of maintaining a crop or pasture.
  • The field was reseeded with a more resilient variety of grass.

Variants and Related Words

• Reseeding (noun/gerund): The act or process of sowing seed again.
  • The reseeding of the meadow was a success.
• Self-seed (verb): A near-synonym for the intransitive meaning of reseed.
  • This annual plant self-seeds prolifically.

Synonyms

• Replant (specifically when involving seeds).
• Sow again.
• Self-sow (for the intransitive, plant-agent meaning).

Phrasal Verbs

• Reseed itself: The specific reflexive construction describing a plant's natural propagation.
  • This biennial will reseed itself if conditions are right.

Related Idioms

• : This idiom means to deteriorate or become untidy, but it is literally the necessary stage for a plant to reseed.
  • You must let some plants go to seed if you want them to reseed in your garden.

Verb

1. maintain by seeding without human intervention
   • Some plants reseed themselves indefinitely
2. seed again or anew