Rimutaka Forest Park Catchpool Valley Tree Planting and Landscape Restoration Plan 2009 – 2014 Introduction

Planting guide (adapted from Manawa Karioi planting guide)

1. 
   Planting is best undertaken during autumn and winter,
   
2. 
   Ensure the root-mass is moist before removing the plastic bag.  Good watering at the holding area the day before is best to allow it to soak to the core of the PB or RTT.
   
3. 
   Make a hole at least 10cm deeper & wider than the root-mass of the plant.
   
4. 
   Try not to disturb more than 10% of the root-mass when removing from PB or RTT.
   
5. 
   Put a few of the water crystals in the bottom of the hole so they will be in immediate contact with the roots. 
   
6. 
   Return soil to half way up the root-mass, gently pushing it down with your finger tips as you go.  Add most of the water crystals at this stage.  In dry sites this encourages roots to grow outwards (rather than downwards) because rain is unlikely to soak far below the soil surface.  Water crystals should be placed hard up against the root-mass so they are in immediate contact with roots.  A small hand-full of water crystals should be sufficient for each plant.  Water crystals must be at least partly charged with water first.  Fill the rest of the hole with soil and press it down with your hands as you go to ensure it is firm.
   
7. 
   Make a dam around the plant to enhance water collection capacity, especially in dry sites. 
   
8. 
   Put a thick layer of mulch within at least a 20cm radius of the stem & ensure no soil is visible through it.  This suppresses weeds and greatly enhances water retention. Natural mulch from around the site is suitable.
   

The following commercial preparations are available through garden centres and agricultural merchants:

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  Thiroprotect - a thiram-based repellent.
  
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  Treepel - an egg-based repellent.
  
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  Plantskydd - a new product (has been tested successfully in trials).
  

In tandem with repellent spraying of plants, rabbit and hare control should be investigated via an ongoing Pindone poisoning regime. This would require an AEE (Assessment of Environmental Effects) which would include public notification and signage. This would ensure ongoing protection for plantings and any natural regeneration. Spotlight-night shooting by experienced shooters who are approved by the Department also needs to be considered.

Tradescantia fluminensis (wandering Jew)

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  Ease of access.
  
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  Points marked on the ground.
  
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  All points GPS’ed/mapped.
  
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  Consistent composition.
  
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  Multiple angles of focal point.
  
• 
  Use a tripod.
  
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  Same focal length.
  
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  Same ISO setting.
  
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  Large aperture.
  
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  Time of day and weather conditions replicated.
  

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  Access to sites from the road;
  
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  Visual proximity of the site to car parking, picnicking and camping areas;
  
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  The possibility to enhance existing vegetation remnants and or natural regeneration.
  
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  Lower valley slopes generally not more than 50 metres above the valley floor.
  

Not all sites will be planted each year as a progressive approach will be taken looking to a long term strategy. The first site to be revegetated is the slopes above the upper car park. While potentially a difficult site to plant due to hard summer conditions it provides ease of access and is a good place for the project to commence. Some flexibility will be needed as planting sites can be selected to suit seasonal conditions and the capability of various planting groups.

Primary species can be planted a higher densities than intermediate and emergent species. The purpose of the primary species is to establish a primary low canopy rapidly that helps suppress weeds and provides protection for intermediate species which tend to be slower growing. Plants should be randomly planted at 2 -3 metre spacing, but plant numbers and area to plant might dictate a wider spacing of 3 metres.

These species will form the basis of the medium term forest that will be created until they are over topped by the canopy/emergent species. They can be planted at lower densities than primary species and therefore extra care should be taken when planting. 5 - 10 meter spacing for these species is acceptable. They can be planted at similar spacing as primary species but this tends to waste plants in the short to medium term because as they establish they will out compete each other and will lead to natural thinning.

Sometimes referred to as climax species, these trees form the uppermost, longest lasting canopy trees in the forest. Canopy species can be planted at a similar density to the sub-canopy species or slightly more so. 10 meter spacing is acceptable. Some species are emergent above the canopy such as totara and rewarewa. Density is reduced again to 5 – 10 meters. However these species are often best planted in clumps of up to 10 plants which will create support for each other and promote tall straight growth as is seen in original forest. This is especially true for kahikatea, totara and rimu which often form small groves. . Rewarewa can be dispersed randomly.

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  Mix species randomly.
  
• 
  Plant in a random matrix, not in grids or rows.
  
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  All plant grades should be PB 3 pr RTT at the minimum.
  
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  Primary species are planted at the highest density and less for each sub canopy and canopy/emergent species as above.