VEGETATION MANAGEMENT PLAN for Bidjigal Reserve - Land

Vegetation Management Plan - Bidjigal Reserve7.8.6 IrrigationIt may not be possible to water the planting sites over a long period, therefore the planting programshould be planned to coincide with the period of maximum (and regular) rainfall. In the SydneyBasin, the optimal planting time is mid to late autumn.It is also important to ensure adequate watering at planting, applying 1-1.5 litres of water to eachnew plant. Additionally, the use of a water-retaining compound and some form of surface mulch arestrongly recommended to retain soil moisture and decrease the need for on-going watering.Plants should be soaked for at least 30 minutes prior to planting (before being removed from theirpots), watered thoroughly at planting and thereafter, watered once each week for a period of 4weeks (weather conditions dictating frequency). After this period, watering comprising 1 litre ofwater / plant each month will be required until the plants have established.If drought conditions prevail, the watering period may have to be extended to ensure plant survival.Watering is best carried out in the early morning as watering at dusk encourages fungal attack inmany species.7.9 Revegetation Methods7.9.1 Tubestock PlantingPlanting 'forestry tubes', hykos (small tubes) and/or advanced tubestock is the most reliable methodof establishing woody native plants (trees, shrubs) and may also be useful in establishing tussockgrasses (e.g. Themeda australis, Echinopogon spp, Poa spp.).Bushland rehabilitation in degraded areas, in large clearings, and on fill soil sites will generally relyon the placement of tubestock, supplemented by other methods of revegetation. Other methodsthat can be used include hand broadcasting of seed, brush matting, and transplanting seedlings.Such methods may be used to 'fill in the gaps' between planted tubestock.Tubestock planting of sedges and rushes in boggy areas and areas of ‘ponded’ water along degradedwatercourses or drainage lines or below stormwater outlets is strongly recommended. These ‘miniwetlands’(sometimes described as biological filters), will help to increase habitat value for faunaspecies utilising these riparian areas, and will assist with the filtering or cleansing of runoff waterfrom upslope development.7.9.2 Hand SowingSeed of hardy pioneer species such as the Acacia Family or Trema aspera (Poison Peach) may becollected from local bushland and scattered on bare (prepared) soil between tubestock plantings 17 .As hand sowing (or direct seeding) is wasteful of seed, seed collected from most other speciesshould be propagated as tubestock.17 Acacia seed must be treated prior to sowing. ~50% of the seed should be treated with boiling water. Seeds should besoaked for 1-2 minutes, drained and allowed to dry.UBM Ecological Consultants Pty Ltd 144