Blogs

Jungle taming

Exploring the site

Behind the cottage is a large section going uphill to a flat space with a brazier. These photos are from my first visit. Hover over the pic to read caption.

Start clearing and discovering

We gathered our tools on site to start clearing and discovering what was coming through under the weeds.
We piled the waste on site to make compost and improve the soil over time. There were so many pest plants that it wouldn't have made enough difference to take the considerable time to remove it all. Worst comes to the worst, we can weedspray the piles later.

New plants

Then we got planting.
Wharangi on the edges. Poa cita grass to hold the bank and for its feathery flower heads. Coprosma kirkii to cover the awkward corner and keep weeds down. Small muehlenbeckia complexa to reduce disturbance to the bank and to cover it. Perennials for colour and to enjoy. Dwarf toe toe to add continuity with existing ones.

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Local natives and weeds

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First day beating the feet during the rahui to save lives and eliminate Covid-19.
I explored part of Sinclair Park, discovering natives and exotic weeds mixed together. And a lovely wildness in the margins.

Some of the natives
Hover over the photo for more information.

Puriri aka Vitex lucens. The berries are important bird food

Mahoe aka whiteywood aka Melicytus ramiflorus

Some of the pest plants I spotted are below.

Sycamore aka Acer pseudoplatanus Remember those helicopters as a kid?, Well they help disperse the seeds over large areas.

Life in the margins

Fennel has been left to grow in the margins which is great to attract beneficial insects and pollinators. The seeds are delicious too

There's a variety of native trees and shrubs along the path. The edges are left to go wild creating an ecosystem of their own.

A wider view, showing a combination of mowed and wildness.

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By the beach

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This almost coastal property wants low maintenance plants that keep the weeds down. There are a surprising number of options. We chose small plants so they get established easily. Green akeake, red matipou, muhlenbeckia astonii, manuka, coprosma proquina, astelia banksii small silver spear.
Hover over the photos for captions.