Salmon Gum Country (Eucalyptus Salmonophloia)
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This publication is designed to assist land Contents managers to identify the different vegetation and soil types that make up the Central and 2 Introduction Eastern Wheatbelt and enable them to best 3 Using This Guide decide the most suitable species when Find out how planning biodiverse revegetation. to prepare 4 Preparation and your site for Establishment Of Your Site regeneration 7 Revegetation Timeline 8 Red Morell Country 10 Gimlet Country 12 Salmon Gum Country Choose your soil type 14 Jam or York Gum Country 16 Tammar Country 18 White Gum Country 20 Mallee Country All flower, tree and landscape Introductory pages written Thanks to all Shire Natural 22 Sandplain or Wodjil photographs have been by Tracey Hobbs, Natural Resource Management kindly donated by Stephen Resource Management Officers in the Central Fry, Natural Resource Officer, Kellerberrin. and Eastern Wheatbelt for 24 Sandy Saline Systems Management Officer, Revegetation pages written edits and advice throughout Bruce Rock. by Stephen Fry, Natural the publishing process of Resource Management this book. Officer, Bruce Rock For further information This publication has been Publication designed Ken Hodgkiss & or assistance please contact funded by the Australian by Juliette Dujardin. friend, John Butcher, the Natural Resource Government’s Clean Energy Lawry Keeler & Management Officer Future Biodiversity Fund. Merrilyn Temby at your local Shire. 1 This publication has been written from a practical The Avon Catchment of WA has less than on-ground perspective for landholders to identify 10% of its original vegetation remaining. their own soil/vegetation types and the best species to use for their revegetation project. This extremely fragmented remnant This collaboration is essential in This publication describes the different vegetation is of high conservation value achieving maximum NRM outcomes soil types, their associated vegetation TIP because of its high level of genetic on-ground across the farming community type, and what defines them. This variation and endemism, and as habitat and NRM resources and services have includes the dominant vegetation and Several photos of defining for threatened and endangered fauna been able to cover an area of 71,480 km.2 other plants that make up the unique flowering shrub species and flora species. This has created a greater opportunity character of this area. for landholders and local government have been included as a The Central Wheatbelt of WA also For each soil/vegetation type there is a to work together to achieve large-scale has 41 Beard and Hopkins Vegetation suggested list of species to be used for reference guide for what environmental gains. Associations (BHVA) identified by the revegetation of that area. Some of the WA Department of Environment and species of the original vegetation have you might see in the Conservation as priority vegetation. not been included in this list as they original vegetation type. Priority vegetation is recognised as are difficult or even impossible to grow having less than 10% remnant horticulturally and therefore unable Generally these are vegetation existing. to be sourced through local nurseries. plants that you will We are a collaboration of fifteen Shire Councils working together not be able to find at to provide Natural Resource Management (NRM) services farm tree nurseries. for the central and eastern regions of the Wheatbelt The in Western Australia. project Perth area Mt Stirling WA 2 3 There are many different methods of revegetation but the one outlined below is the most common and successful process for the Central and Eastern Wheatbelt. Site Preparation TIP Planning Ripping Planting If your site has a hard pan it may be The most common method of planting There are specialist necessary to rip 4-6 months prior to in the area is with a one pass Chatfield’s To ensure the availability of the preferred planting as this will allow the moisture Tree Planter. This machine will allow seedlings you will need to place an order biodiversity nurseries to penetrate the soil and enable the you to rip and scalp the site at the same with your chosen nursery by November where difficult to source seedling roots to spread. time you are planting the seedlings. the year before you plan to revegetate. species can be ordered. These machines can usually be hired Pre-planting Weed Control from your local Shire or Landcare group. Weed control is important to conserve Contact your local Natural For the best success rate it is important the available soil moisture and avoid that the seedlings are planted in the Resource Management competition with your seedlings. best possible conditions. This is usually This can be done using a knockdown Officer for further details. in July when there is soil moisture (Glyphosphate) herbicide. Your local and potential rain to help establish agronomist can assist you with the seedlings. further recommendations. Hand Planting Pest Control Hand planting can be just as quick If rabbits are abundant in the area it and more successful than machine would be advisable to carry out some planting, if the preparation is well done. form of rabbit control in the summer/ A Chatfield Tree Planting machine with autumn prior to planting. This could the press wheels removed creates the be in the form of baiting, warren perfect hand planting environment. ripping or fumigation. It affords you the opportunity to return to the site and replant or seed Sandalwood in subsequent years. 4 5 First Second Third Order seedlings Year Year Year from nursery January Rabbit control February Weed control Post-Planting March Site preparation April Pest Control Stock Restriction Post planting rabbit control may be It is essential to restrict stock from the required if rabbits pose a threat to site until the seedlings have properly Planting May seedlings. You will first notice this where established. For a biodiverse site this the site is close to existing vegetation. will be at least four years. If you are Monitor & revegetating with fodder shrubs as part June survival count of a grazing system this time frame can be reduced to 18 months. When stock are July TIP allowed access to the site, seedlings will need to be closely monitored for signs of Rabbit control will be more grazing damage. August important in dry years when they are seeking food. September In these circumstances October kangaroos may also pose a threat to seedlings. November Claudia Kirby December planting Sandal wood hosts in 2009 6 7 Morell is probably the most difficult Characteristics Standard Nursery Species Morell has very saline subsoil. soil to work with, apart from heavy Acacia hemetiles Tan Wattle Once the topsoil erodes, salinity clays, which are usually close by. is sure to follow. Atriplex amnicola River Saltbush Morells are often associated The soil is structureless, fine and dusty Old Man Saltbush with saline landscapes. Atriplex nummularia with a propensity to erode easily. The understory is sparse and Atriplex semibaccatta Creeping Saltbush dominated by saltbush species. Atriplex vesicaria - As many as 10 saltbush species can be identified under morell canopies. Casuarina obesa Swamp Sheoak Melaleuca pauperiflora is the most Eucalyptus longicornis Red Morell common mid story species associated with Morell. Eucalyptus Oil Mallee York Gimlet often interacts at the margins loxophleba-lissophloia to heavy clays and if Salmon Gum is Eucalyptus myriadena - present, double check to make sure that it isn’t Eucalyptus urna, which Eucalyptus salubris Gimlet grows with Morell and looks very Enchylaena tomentosa Ruby Saltbush similar to Salmon Gum. Morell (Eucalyptus longicornis) Maireana brevifolia Bluebush can survive in saline margins Boree and heavy clays and performs Melaleuca pauperiflora well in revegetation projects. Things you may see in Morell country but won’t be able to get from the nursery... Acacia Frankenia sp intricata Hakea preissii Darwinia sp 8 9 Gimlet country is characterised by clay. Characteristics Standard Nursery Species Whether red cracking clays or grey Tan Wattle Gimlet soils will be hard, sticky, grey clays, Eucalyptus salubris will dominate Acacia hemetiles on valley floor environments. to red clays. You will need plenty of Atriplex semibaccatta Creeping Saltbush Gimlet is often joined by Salmon Gum, horsepower to ensure that it is ripped Morell or Eucalyptus urna. Atriplex vesicaria - well for a good revegetation outcome. The soils are generally in the valley Eucalyptus longicornis Red Morell floor and as the soil slope rises, other species will take over. Eucalyptus loxophleba York Gum ssp lissophloia Oil Mallee Gimlet can also grade to Eucalyptus capillosa or to York Gum. Eucalyptus myriadena - Eucalyptus loxophleba ssp lissophloia Eucalyptus salubris Gimlet can also be associated with Gimlet. Ruby Saltbush It is common to see all of the Enchylaena tomentosa mentioned Eucalypts growing Melaleuca pauperiflora - together where the soil structures are constantly changing. Maireana brevifolia Bluebush Things you may see in clay but won’t be able to get from the nursery... Acacia hemetiles Pit tosporum P tilotus angustifloia spathulatus Grevillea huegellii 10 11 Salmon Gum country (Eucalyptus Characteristics Standard Nursery Species With loamy or sandy topsoils Jam salmonophloia) is perhaps the most and deep loamy clays beneath, Acacia acuminata reliable and productive soil in this soil will support many other Acacia hemetiles Tan Wattle Eucalypts and understory and the Wheatbelt. mid story species. Acacia