Watering in long stem tube
The Australian Plant Society (Central Coast Group) was awarded a restoration and rehabilitation grant in 2003 to work on Katandra Reserve near Gosford. Katandra Reserve consists of 15 hectares of sub–tropical rainforest that had previously been disturbed by farming and timber removal, and had become infested with exotic weeds.
The initial focus of the project was to conduct primary and secondary weed removal. Once the weed stock had been reduced, replanting occurred trialling the long–stem planting method for the first time in a rainforest environment. This was done to improve growth and survival rates which had been poor with standard tube stock. Given the large number of bush revegetation projects undertaken each year, promotion of this technique and increased survival of plantings has the potential to improve project outcomes.
Long–stem planting involves maturing tube stock for 12 to 18 months (to a size of 1.5m). The plants then have approximately 70 per cent to 90 per cent of their length placed into the hole at planting. This method of planting enhances the plants' ability to access subsoil moisture and avoid root competition with weed species which ultimately results in higher survival and growth rates.
The Long Stem Planting guide
The development of the long–stem planting method in Australia has seen an increase in the survival rates of seedlings planted in many different environments. This method was pioneered by Bill Hicks in the Hunter Valley.
The advantages of this method include:
- no post–planting watering required
- increased growth rates
- higher survival rates.
Long–stem planting has:
- made a positive contribution to many rehabilitation projects
- resulted in individuals and groups achieving successful outcomes in areas that were considered a challenge
- been successful in a wide range of environments.
Gosford City Council in conjunction with the Australian Plants Society was funded by the Environmental Trust to develop a guide on long–stem planting. The guide provides step by step information on this method and its applications for community groups and organisations involved in bush rehabilitation works, land management and natural resource management.
The guide incorporates information from previous studies on long–stem planting and outlines its use in riparian, rainforest, coastal sand dune and saline environments. The Long–stem Planting Guide was officially launched by Councillor Peter Freewater from Gosford City Council at Katandra Reserve on Sunday 2 May 2010.
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