seeding and planting
There are two main methods by which revegetation takes place in the
south-west of Western Australia. Both options have their advantages and
limitations, depending on the project constraints and desired outcome, and
these are often used in combination:
• direct seeding is a longer-term
cost-effective technique that can result in large numbers of plants, but is
limited in its application; and
• seedling planting produces faster results and is more
reliable than direct seeding, though is more expensive.
Other methods less often used, and which can be used in combination with the
methods above, are:
•
translocation of topsoil, which can be effective, if the topsoil is relatively weed-free, to utilise the bank
of native seeds stored therein, but sources can be difficult to find, and
transport costs can be high; and
• transplanting of existing plants,
which is generally cost-prohibitive, but may be
appropriate for species that are difficult to propagate or slow-growing,
such as grass trees.
Whichever methods are used, it is important to use species of local
provenance, that is, known to be native to the area, and to use an
appropriate mix of species.
There are many factors to consider in formulating a revegetation program
incorporating these techniques, including required plant density; soil type
and nutrient status, which influence the need for fertiliser; soil moisture,
and the need for watering; likelihood of plant predation and
many other factors.
In some cases where direct seeding is used, particularly on sandy sites,
hydromulching may be desirable to prevent the seed and dust being blown
around.
