Fertilisation

Australian native plants typically adapt to low nutrient soils. Some species — such as many of the Acacia, Banksia, Hakea and Pultenaea species — are susceptible to excess phosphorous. Considering that revegetation reconstruction often happens in sites where fertilisers have been heavily applied during agricultural processes, fertilisation of native reconstructive projects isn’t always required. In fact, fertilisation can sometimes be a detrimental inclusion. In some cases, excess nutrients may need removing. For example, you may need to scalp nutrient-rich topsoil from heavily fertilised ex-farming sites to create suitable soil for native grass seeding. The best approach is to factor in a soil nutrition assessment into your project timeline. Do this early enough, up to a year before your anticipated planting time, to cater for any required soil amendments. Your assessment may include:

• Reviewing the site’s history
• Examining the condition of any existing vegetation
• Obtaining a professional soil analysis

Soil amendments can be added to the soil with cultivation, included as an individual process at the time of planting, or applied to the plants after seeding or planting.