Hand-weeding team ready for action
Overview
Caring for the precinct
The focus of our Landcare is to ensure the Kensington Bush Forever site in the Precinct is maintained and preserved and to work towards ecological restoration and protection of flora and fauna in adjacent areas.
Our hand-weeding project is our major Landcare activity. With the combined effort of volunteer weeders and the Town’s chemical weeding program, the pink gladioli that dominated 20 years ago have all but disappeared.
Planting is always popular and our members can be found at community planting days across Victoria Park and South Perth. We anticipate there will be more opportunities for the community to participate in planting events in the sandpit and in the Kensington Bushland in 2025.
Three bird waterers, or Cockitroughs, have been installed in the Jirdarup bushland precinct, providing a permanent fresh water supply for birdlife in the area. These structures provide a safe and natural surface for birds to land and are an ideal focal point to attract bird watchers.
Tips for successful planting
Dr Katinka Ruthrof provided the following tips for successful planting:
- Order plants before Christmas (Eucs are fine later, but e.g., Banksias take time..). See Restoration Timetable Bulletin.
- Planting season on the Swan Coastal Plain / deep sandy soils = late May-June. Later is often too late for roots to get down to 50cm+
- Use healthy (~20-30cm) seedlings (for eucalypts).
- Water the seedlings in their pots in the morning really well, and again just before they go into the ground.
- Herbicide site if needed once the weeds are visible after the break of season. Keep in mind how residual the herbicide is.
- Either tractor rip the site to 30-50cm depth, if you have access, or hand auger/ post hold dig each hole down to 30-50cm. I have a planting drill bit of 60cm that fits onto an electric hand drill with a 1cm chuck. This part of the process is critical, in my opinion.
- The sand falls back into the hole – which is fine. Then create a large (30cm across, 15-20cm sides) well and little hole for the seedling. Some post hole diggers have a well-maker added.
- Add fertiliser tablet (any slow release ones available). Â
- Add the seedling. Make sure the top of the potting mix is covered by soil. If the potting mix is exposed, it’ll release moisture very quickly. Re-check / reform well and mounding around seedling.
- Water in if possible, to remove air pockets around the seedling. 1-2L (some people say 5L, but this isn’t possible in hard to reach sites).
- Water 1L per plant / week (if it hasn’t rained that week, from Nov – Mar), if possible.