Soil preparation and plant protection are vital to successful revegetation. Encouraging the development and survival of tubestock involves a few key things, including soil conditioning, weed control, erosion prevention, correct planting techniques and plant protection.
Weeds will always compete for nutrients and water against your tubestock. Make sure to spray and clear the revegetation site of all wild plants. By reducing the weeds, you will give your vegetation a greater chance of survival.
Thoroughly dampen your soil to make removing weeds easier. Remove as many weeds and stray roots as possible to prevent regrowth.
As revegetation generally takes place on a site exposed to the elements. It is important to protect the topsoil from being blown away by wind or washed away during rains.
The best and most cost-effective way to do this is to use natural biodegradable mats made from coir or jute. These mats are pinned to the ground and provide a protective barrier over the soil, which helps prevent erosion while still being porous enough to maintain airflow and moisture.
The erosion control mats will protect the topsoil and also inhibit the growth of weeds. Coir and jute mats are biodegradable and long-lasting. When your plants are established, their root system will work to hold the soil together. Over the years the matting will disintegrate into the soil, so there is no need to remove it.
The mats can be purchased with 5 slits per square metre. These slits are used to create easy access for you to plant your new vegetation.
Planting your new trees to help with erosion control is easy. With a hand shovel, dig a hole under the slit, then place the young plant into the hole along with a high-quality plant establisher.
Terraform Plant Establisher is one we recommend and it gives the plant a triple-action boost. This helps the plant absorb and retain water and supplies nutrition to the plant over the growing season. A plant establisher increases the overall survival rate of your plant.
It is important to choose the right plants when planning your revegetation project. Choose plants that will thrive in your climate and the area you are planting.
Be sure to research the hardiness of the plants and the weather conditions best suited for your chosen trees. Many trees and plants survive best when planted with complementary vegetation. Have a chat with your local garden centre and ask for their recommendations.
Once you have prepared the ground for planting and chosen the right trees for your project, it is important to protect them against animals, insects and frost.
Small ground-dwelling animals love new tree growth and can destroy all of your hard work.
The best way to protect your trees from these animals is to use a tree guard.
Tree guards create a barrier around your tree to deter small animals from eating or damaging it while it is being established. Using a tree guard will also help to retain moisture in the soil surrounding your plant. Moist soil holds more heat than dry soil and can help the tree during frost.
Using stakes to support your tree is another way to protect it from the wind. Correctly staking your trees will give them added support to prevent them from bowing or breaking.
There are many things you can do to prepare your revegetation project to ensure success. Following these steps will get you off to a great start and allow your vegetation to thrive.
All Stake Supply offer a range of products to help with your revegetation project, along with expert advice. For landscape supplies in Sydney, contact our friendly staff on 1300 130 123
