FuturEcology & EmGuard ™ April 2022 Update
Welcome to the April newsletter as we enter the run up to Easter and Anzac Day celebrations. Let’s hope this lovely weather continues for the break, and then it rains so we can all get started on the winter planting season.
Nurseries are gearing up to deliver plants, site preparation should be more or less completed and once soil moisture levels lift it should be all systems go!
Just a note, be very careful if you have used chemical sprays to prepare sites for planting, that you leave enough time for sprays to dissipate before you start putting plants in the ground. Some chemicals have a half life of over 3 months, so be very careful not to plant too soon after spraying. Check the labels for the times.
We tried and failed to reinvent the EmGuard™ wheel…
With many new types of biodegradable plant guards popping up, we decided to try some different versions of the EmGuard ™. We recognised that price can be a determinant in whether guards are implemented into some plantings so we looked at what we could do to provide an alternative guard at a lower price.
We decided to try both a standard EmGuard ™ with no waxed coating and a lighter-grade cardboard guard that was wax coated. We used these guards in the Hira Reserve and the Todds Valley Reserve in 2021 and have monitored how they have performed over the last year.
Very interestingly, the pukekos took a real shine to the guards that were not coated and tore them up very quickly. The guards that were made of lighter grade cardboard equally did not perform well, collapsing within a couple of months of installation.
It seems the lighter board did not have the structural integrity to stand up to the elements. When the cardboard got wet, it slumped and was far more prone to damage by wind, birds and flood water.
A year on there is now very little evidence of either of the trial guards left in the sites. Where this has been challenging is in the maintenance phase. Without proper protection, it made maintenance incredibly difficult and much slower.
Original EmGuards ™ looking fantastic at Fairfield House in Nelson
What we took from the trials was that there was nothing to be gained by using the lower grade trial guards. They did not last the season and did not add sufficient value to the planting to make them worthwhile using.
We are glad we spent the time to explore other options, but it just helped to reinforce why we do what we do. The high spec, heavy grade board and good waterproof coating is the key to success.
The EmGuard ™ is a premium product and one that is well proven in conditions all over New Zealand since 2017.
Your EmGuards ™ are on their way
At the moment we have good stocks of EmGuard on hand and all the pre-orders underway. However, as Covid continues to surge through the country, labour shortages are affecting the supply chain and proving a challenge for all businesses, including us. We are grateful to our factory for their communication and commitment to filling all of our orders. Please allow up to 10 days for your deliveries as the freight companies have advised us that they are similarly challenged at the moment.
Seed Collecting
It's that time of year, seeds are ripe and ready to be collected. It has been great for the team to get out ecosourcing seeds from around the local area. Ecosourcing is the term given to collecting seeds from plants that belong to that ecological district. This is an important part of a restoration project as it ensures the plants will be suited to local conditions and therefore, more likely to survive. Ecosourcing also helps to maintain the area’s unique local characteristics.
It is so beneficial for the team to be involved in all stages of preparing a planting. There is something very satisfying about seed collecting. Every plant is so different in how it produces its seeds and how they are spread. There is also a real art to knowing when seeds are ripe and ready to be collected and then where the best seeding trees are. This is a skill that Robert seems to have down pat.
Most of the seed collecting has been done for the 2023 planting for the Kidson/Ussher project, Wakapuaka Mouri.
We would love to share your projects. If you have any great pictures, please email them through to emguard@futurecology.co.nz for a newsletter feature or Instagram shoutout.
Introducing TerraMulch Mats
This year we are very excited to announce that we will also be stocking TerraMulch Mats. TerraMulch Mats are pre-cut squares of jute reinforced wool mulch designed for the protection of singular plants.
TerraMulch Mats are fully biodegradable and can greatly enhance the establishment of plants. There are many benefits to incorporating weed mats into a planting, such as moisture retention, frost protection of root systems and these mats biodegrade as a mulch to feed the plants. The precut slits make for easy installation.
With the price of glyphosate increasing, we are looking at how we can reduce how much chemical we use on plantings. Weed mats are effective for weed suppression so we are hoping they will reduce the amount of maintenance needed.
As the mats are a new addition to our product offering and we have already planned our projects for the year, we will be looking to implement them into more of our plantings in 2023. However, if you would like to incorporate this great product into your projects this year, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Weed of the month - Climbing Dock
Botanical name: Rumex sagittatus
Common name: Climbing Dock
Rumex sagittatus, commonly known as climbing dock, originated in South Africa and is a scrambling or low-climbing perennial. Climbing dock has brown kumara or beetroot-like tubers that grow between 20-50cm and have a yellow coloured flesh and long extensive rhizomes. The weed has hairless, reddish-green stems with a slender, ribbed make up that can grow up to 3-4m long. Climbing dock has light green arrow-shaped leaves with pointed basal lobes that face downwards. The plant produces clusters of small, green-pink or reddish flowers at the top and can be seen between November and April. The seed capsules are produced in large masses of showy yellow-pink-crimson, flat, heart-shaped capsules that span roughly 1cm in diameter.
Climbing dock is unique in that no other climber has tubers and the clearly visible pink seed capsules make it easy to spot at this time of year.
Climbing dock presents risk as a noxious weed due to its effective dispersal mechanisms and fast growth rate, allowing it to scramble quickly over most plants. Climbing dock is tolerant of damp or drought conditions and most temperatures but is intolerant of shade. Climbing dock invades regenerating habitats, it replaces the low canopy and prevents the establishment of native plant seedlings.
Climbing dock’s seeds and tubers are spread by wind and fresh or salt water, soil movement and vegetation dumping. It is often found in wasteland, hedges, coastal land, heavily disturbed sites and roadsides.
Getting rid of climbing dock can present its challenges. If the site is small, dig out the rhizomes between spring and summer. Dispose of these by burning them or taking them to the transfer station. For larger sites, the weed can be sprayed. Most effective in summer with metsulfuron-methyl 600g/kg (5g/10L + penetrant). Note: Be careful of using this in sandy soils near precious native plants. This is best for follow up after the tubers have been dug out.
Rhizomes definition:
A rhizome is also called a creeping rootstalk. It is a horizontal underground plant stem that is capable of producing the shoot and root system of a new plant. Rhizomes are used to store starches and proteins and enable plants to perennate underground.
Stick Insects
Nature never ceases to amaze us. How beautiful is this stick insect we came across while collecting seeds off a very grand old Kahikatea tree? We were lucky enough to see two of these on the same branch.
Stick insects belong to the insect order Phasmatodea. The name comes from the Greek word ‘phasm’, which means phantom. Stick insects are referred to as phantoms of the forest as they are well camouflaged, looking like twigs or leaves. During the day they stay still or sway like foliage in the wind.
When stick insects are ready to mate, it is thought that they release chemicals called pheromones to attract a partner by smell. The male is usually smaller than the female and rides on her back for several days. Most of the New Zealand species drop fertilized eggs to the ground, where tiny insects known as nymphs, hatch among the leaf litter.
In Māori tradition, all insects are respected as children on Tāne, god of the forests. It was believed that if a stick insect landed on you in the bush, you were entering a sacred place. If the stick insect landed on a woman, it was a sign she was pregnant (Trewick, 2007).
Interesting snippets
What we’ve been reading - The Vulgar Wasp, The story of a ruthless invader and ingenious predator, by Phil Lester. Published by Victoria University Press 2018.
Wasps are feared and hated by many of us, and are ranked as one of the world’s most invasive species. This book tells the story of the common wasp and its impact on us and our bio-diversity.
What we’ve been watching - Detectorists (Netflix)
A delightful look at the joy of hobbies and a gentle commentary on the importance of friendships, relationships, hobbies, history and beautifully filmed in the UK.
Winter Warmer Recipe - Crusty Beef Casserole
A family favourite for many years and we often substitute venison for the beef.
