Contents

1. Description
2. Pictures
3. Pros
4. Cons
5. Comments
6. See also
7. External links
8. Further reading
9. Information provided by

Description (edit)

Mulching the plants with a layer of permeable material is essential to retain soil moisture, reduce weed growth and provide soil insulation. It is important to mulch sufficiently deeply, but be careful not to bury small plants. Use organic material if possible, as it breaks down to supply nutrients to the soil. These mulches will need renewing over time to maintain effective weed control.

Mulch the entire cleared area around each plant. Do not mulch naturally wet areas and stream edges as saturation and anaerobic conditions can develop – mulch can also be washed away and cause stream blockages. Once your plants are established and the canopy closes, mulching should not be needed.

Benefits

• reduce competition
• retain moisture (benched surface, dry grass on mat)
• relocation

Other types of mulch can be useful for weed suppression, but each has disadvantages:

Stones
can be used where they are available (e.g., in riverbeds), but reflected heat could scorch large-leaved plants.

Paper discs
can be used, but must be held down with stones, turfs or pinned with wire. The 30-cm discs are too small as grasses can still shade the plants and the weed roots extend under the discs. Thin discs break down relatively quickly; larger thicker ones may be more effective.

Synthetic weed mats
can be pinned down with wire and used on steep sites. However, they do not decompose, they prevent the development of an organic layer on the soil and are difficult to remove when they are no longer needed.

Car tyres
(two or three) can be stacked around plants at dry exposed sites to provide shelter, deter animals and suppress weeds. It can be awkward to move large numbers of tyres around, and they need to be removed later as they are an eyesore.

Pictures (edit)

more pictures

Pros (edit)

Good because etc etc

Cons (edit)

Not good because etc etc.

Comments (edit)

1/1/2007
I own a 228-acre hill country farm in the Manawatu and am interested in finding ways to improve the sustainability of the property. Fortunately I have Bush Vitality - a very impressive work that provides a huge amount of valuable and practical information. My background is in science and technology and I can see that this book promotes an enlightened insight to smart environmental management of the future. Congratulations - make sure you get this info out there!
Joe Bloggs

1/2/3007
What a marvellous publication! This has got so much comprehensive and practical material in it that no-one will ever need to compile another bush protection/ rehabilitation/recognition guide. The things I have longed for in previous publications in vain, are sensible planting guides, good photo captioning and of course a smart and user-friendly presentation.
Dr Who

10/12/2009
This book is an important tool for landowners to assess and improve areas of biodiversity on their land. As one of the main organisations offering protection mechanisms for natural and open space areas on private land the QEII National Trust has a keen interest in this initiative and promotes the book to its covenantors.
Sally Yi

See also (edit)

• mulch
• organic material
• inorganic material
• maintenace schedule
• Protecting and restoring our natural heritage

External links (edit)

• www.weedmats.com
• www.doc.govt.nz/templates/MultipageDocumentPage.aspx?id=42697

Further reading (edit)

• Protecting and restoring our natural heritage. Mark Davis & Colin Meurk. DOC. 2001

Information provided by (edit)

Di Carter, Mike Peters, Mark Davies, Colin Meurk

Keyword (edit)
weed mat materials

Last updated 2 December 2007 3.41PM by PIPI