Native Planting in the Land Management Bay Of Plenty Factsheet Restoring areas with native restore areas of indigenous Fencing materials and labour. vegetation in the Bay of Plenty. plants helps keep our Mulch. environment healthy and 1. Create a plan Weed control, chemicals & labour. attractive. Natives in our Pest animal control chemicals, If you intend on planting a large equipment and labour. natural areas play a critical area, it pays to work out a planting NOTE 1 role in reducing erosion, plan well in advance. Decide on - Check whether any archaeological improving water quality, 1. What you want to achieve. sites are present on the site. Contact and storing carbon. What type of habitat are you the Bay of Plenty Regional Council for assistance with this. Natural ecosystems also benefit restoring? This will be important landowners and communities when choosing your plants. For NOTE 2 by beautifying the landscape, example, if one of your aims is to Planting is just one approach you supporting native wildlife, improving increase food for native bird species, can take. Other methods include pollination, providing opportunities you will need to plant species that assisting natural regeneration for recreation and supporting natural provide fruit and nectar. and establishing a nurse crop, products such as honey. 2. Where you want to achieve it or removing pest plants to allow regeneration of natural species. On Lots of our wetlands, dunes, coastal It’s important to understand your some sites, it might be appropriate and lowland forest ecosystems are site before deciding what to plant. to use a mix of these options. For in need of restoration. Native areas The physical characteristics of a tailored advice about which options have been greatly reduced relative planting site (e.g. soil type, moisture are best for your site, contact your to their natural pre-human extent levels and amount of shelter) BOPRC Land Management Officer. - some by more than 95 percent. determine what plants will thrive. Remnants of these threatened Choosing plants that thrive will ecosystems provide stepping-stones increase plant survival. It’s a good 2. Preparing your site for wildlife to move through the idea to consider what’s growing in Fencing landscape, and are often the last nearby natural areas. refuges for rare or endangered native Stock and plants don’t mix, so it’s 3. What’s needed to get the job species. best to isolate the area you are done working in. Some examples of goals for You will need to consider the Find the most practical place for restoration planting projects might following - include: a fence to go. What site preparation is required Enhancing the area. A seven-wire post and batten (e.g. fencing, pest animal and fence will keep all stock out. Enlarging an area of existing native weed control). On dairy farms a two or three vegetation. How many and what kinds of wire electric fence is ok. Filling in gaps (‘light wells’) or the plants you will need for the area. edges of an area of existing native Make sure there is a big enough vegetation. How you will obtain the plants buffer between open water, wet you need in time for each planting areas, your project planting, and Attracting native birds and insects. season. the fence. On flat country, a buffer Stabilising the soil on steeper of three to five metres is suitable. slopes. Timing for the planting over the In steeper country the buffer year and in the future. Stabilising stream banks. needs to be 10 metres or more to be effective at filtering nutrients Creating a corridor of native 4. How much time and resources and capturing sediment. vegetation to link with other areas. are available Fully restoring a bare area to its Because restoration projects can go For the best biodiversity benefits a original vegetation. on over many years, it’s important to 10-20 metre buffer is required. think through the costs you’re likely This factsheet provides information to face. These could include - to help landowners and community groups plant natives to successfully Plants and planting labour. 2 Native Planting in the Bay Of Plenty Weeds Some commercial and community How big is your planting site? Weeds and other vegetation may nurseries specialise in eco-sourcing You’ll need to know how big your compete with native plants for light, or you can propagate your own planting area is to establish how water and nutrients. Before you plants from seeds and cuttings. many plants you need. You can do plant, clear them. Choose plants that are: this by pacing it out and calculating the area or by using a GPS unit. If Weeds may take one or several Right for the site. attempts, or even years, to get you have access to Google Earth™ Proven species that will guarantee under control. and your site is big enough, you success of your project. might be able to measure it with it’s Avoid removing or killing native Sourced very close to or in the ruler tool. plant species if they are present. same ecological district as the Plant spacing A dense infestation can be planting site. See the graphic of controlled by spraying and/or Ecological Districts in the Bay of Plant spacing is important; how by mulching. If you are using Plenty below. densely you plant effects the a mulcher or a digger to clear establishment time and cost. From a reputable wholesale native weeds and scrub make sure you Planting too close together means nursery. comply with District Council you’ll need a lot of plants, but vegetation clearance rules and Present in local natural areas. planting too far apart means it will take a long time for the individual Bay of Plenty Regional Council What plant size? earthworks rules. plants to establish to form a canopy. A lot of maintenance and weed About a month before you plant, Pot size Plant Size carry out a pre-plant weed name bag control will be needed. size spray (spot-spray) - about 50 Spacing of 1.5 metres is required centimetres square for every Root trainer - 172 ml for trees and shrubs. plant. Spot-spraying provides Hilson (RTH) Smaller species like sedges and a clear spot free of grasses and Root trainer - 352 ml rushes need to be planted much other exotic weed species. Tinus (RTT) closer together. For most wetland Pesky pests 1L 3/4 species 0.75 - 1 metres will be Feral animals can be a problem 1.5L 2 fine. Large trees should be planted for young plants. Pest animals like 2L 3 120x120 mm rabbits, hares and possums eat the diameter further apart (5 metres or more). palatable leaves and pūkeko will Study the table below to work out pull out sedges and rushes to reach 3L 5 140 x 140 mm how many plants you will need for tender shoots. diameter your site. Multiply your project area Rabbits can be controlled using Plants should be sturdy and about (in hectares) by the number in the poison or by night shooting with twice the height of the pot they are second column to find how many a spotlight. growing in. plants you’ll need. Possums can be poisoned, shot or Trees and shrubs should have a Distance Plants Comments trapped. well-developed stem and stand between per A permit from Department of sturdy in the pot. plants hectare* Conservation is required to shoot The root ball should be well (metres) pūkeko outside of the game bird established but not root-bound. 0.5 40,000 Use for small season. There are a wide range of pot sizes 1 10,000 wetland/dune BOPRC Land Management Officers and types available. plants can provide further advice on pest 1.5 4,500 Suitable Small grades like root trainers animals and weed control. 1.75 3,300 for most (often called RTs) generally take a revegetation 3. Planting bit longer to get established and projects will require care for longer. Larger 2 2,500 Use where What to plant grades like 2L or PB3 will establish intensive a canopy cover quicker and will after-planting What you should plant depends require less follow up care. They care is on your goals, your site, and what cost a bit more but are more cost available grows naturally in the area. Eco- effective in the long run. 5 400 Large trees sourced plants (native plants grown planted from locally sourced seed and Many wetland species such as Carex between cuttings) should be used as often as sedges are usually best purchased smaller possible. This ensures natural plant as root trainers. Harakeke (flax) is species best purchased as bare rooted stock populations survive. * A hectare is 10,000m2 or 100 x 100 m. if you can get it. BAY OF PLENTY REGIONAL COUNCIL TOI MOANA Native Planting in the Bay Of Plenty 3 How To Plant Planting tips Spraying is the most cost efficient maintenance method for large areas. Lay out your plants before you Glyphosate should be used for maintenance as it is largely deactivated in start (but keep them in their pots the soil. so they don’t dry out). Other specific sprays will kill specific weeds. Contact your Land Management Make sure the whole planting officer for advice. team know where the plants Extra care should be taken when using chemicals around other plants. should go. Don’t spray when it is windy! Make sure plant species are in Hand weeding, trampling, or chipping grass and weeds away with a spade the correct environment – for or shovel will also work.