SERIES 36 | Episode 14
Can I send cuttings in the mail?
TAMMY: Yes, but first check the quarantine restrictions for the state you’re sending to. Both WA and Tassie are very strict, and other states have limitations too. There may also be costly quarantine restriction before delivery.
Check first that the plant isn’t an environmental weed in the state you’re sending it to.
Allow cuttings to develop roots before sending, so they’ll be more travel hardy.
To pack, wrap the roots in moist paper towels or send in soil, if allowed.
Can I over-fertilise my garden?
JERRY: Yes, you can. Fertiliser – used with compost – can gently lift the performance of plants and is more effective than forcing them to grow.
If a plant is dormant and not growing, there’s no point fertilising at all.
Jerry recommends a liquid foliar feed with granular fertiliser under the mulch.
What is a pioneer plant?
SOPHIE: These are the first species to grow on land that’s been cleared or disturbed. They are an important first step to rebuilding an ecosystem.
In Australia, acacias are important pioneer species, growing quickly and improving the environment for other plants by adding organic matter, reducing soil erosion, adding shade and shelter, and fixing nitrogen in the soil via their roots. This makes way for slower-growing, longer-lived plants to become established.
Featured Plant WATTLEAcacia sp.Useful link
Weeds Australia
