Tree Scheme Autumn 2010Number 3

Volunteer Grower

Contact usVolunteer Grower is a production of Trees For Life.

If you would like to help us save paper by receiving this via email, please let us know.

End-of-season editionBy JENNIFER HOWE Volunteer Grower Coordinator

The Trees For Life (TFL) seedling growing season is

now drawing to a close. As volunteer growers, you have either farewelled your seedlings already or are just about to, whilst landholders and those growing for themselves are busy readying for planting.

Despite drought conditions over the past few years, our landholders receiving seedlings have still reported an approximate 75% survival rate of their plantings. So with the past few weeks of initial rains in most areas we are all hopeful for good things to come - including an increased survival rate of our seedlings once in the earth.

For the most part it has been another successful season albeit not without its challenges!

This season the Tree Scheme experienced a particular problem with the condition of the soil mix which has impacted on the health and vigour of a few Acacia species.

Trees For Life

5 May Tce

Brooklyn Park 5032

Ph: 8406 0500

Fax: 8406 0599

info@treesforlife.org.au

www.treesforlife.org.au

Fast Facts Growing Season 2009/10Volunteer Growers 945Self Growers 627Total 1,572 growers

Landholder orders 674,400Special project orders 57,200Back-up stock 57,750 Total Orders 789,350 seedlings

We include an article overleaf with specific details regarding this matter so you can put your minds at ease if you were affected by this setback. We also include some feedback on the overall quality of seedlings received from volunteers to give you an idea of what volunteers

are doing well and what improvements can be made.

It has been a great pleasure for me to join the team and learn the ropes on how the Tree Scheme works. I have been truly overwhelmed by the scope of the project, and the time and dedication each individual/family needs to contribute to get the right mix of light, water, etc to get the results required.

Well done and thank you for your efforts. I look forward to working with you all again next year!

Room for improvementTube filling, tube filling,

tube filling: It cannot be emphasised enough that this is the foundation of the entire project. A seed needs a sturdy base to support it to set down strong roots to spring board into life.

Poor tube filling leads to stunted and retarded growth and a high mortality rate. In a loosely filled tube it is possible for a seed to germinate and even put on growth, appearing to the novice that it is quite healthy. However it will not survive once put out in the paddock to fend for itself as its roots will be shallow and weak.

For your seedlings to be successful in life, the soil must be firm throughout the entire length of the tube, from the corners all the way up to 1cm below the top.

Phosphorus imbalance in Acacia speciesA number of growers reported difficulties with particular

species of Acacia this year and during our intake of backup and project stock in March, it became apparent that these symptoms were widespread.

Soil tests confirmed that an excess level of phosphorus was present in some of the soil provided to distribution depots*, and hence supplied to our growers. As most indigenous plants are adapted to low nutrient soils, the phosphorus content has had a detrimental effect on a number of species. The symptoms of excess phosphorus include yellowish young leaves, reddish older leaves, dieback on the older leaves and general lack of growth and vigour. Species most affected were Acacia pycnantha, A. paradoxa, A. myrtifolia, A. retinodes and A. argyrophylla.

If your Acacia seedlings displayed these symptoms then please feel heartened to know it was beyond your control and inform your landholders that this problem has occurred. We are hopeful that once in the ground within low-phosphorus soils any seedlings which have survived thus far will make a recovery. We sincerely apologise for this occurrence however it was beyond our control. We are putting every effort in place to ensure it will not happen again. Fortunately the majority of species were unaffected and we still have a good supply for all our landholders to plant successfully this winter.

NB: Additionally we observed difficulties growing Alloc. muelleriana and Alloc. striata in most zones but we are unable to determine if this is directly related to the same problem.

* Soil supplied to depots in Naracoorte, Keith, Kingston, Mt Gambier and Bordertown was not affected.

Did your Acacias look like this?

Acacia pycnantha seedlings affected by excess phosphorus

2010/11 Growing Schedule

Orders for seedlings: 1st May – 31 July 2010Register to be a volunteer grower: July – Oct 2010Pick up supplies and materials: Nov 2010Growing season:November - April 2011

Growing hits and misses Areas where you’ve improved this season

Labelling: It’s great to see that seedlings are being delivered clearly labelled displaying botanical name and growing zone, as this is essential information for TFL staff and landholders. More people are using the 4B pencil which doesn’t fade or rub off.

Transplanting – Don’t leave it too late!

1. Don’t transplant anything bigger than 1-3cm

2. Stop transplanting at least one month before handover

3. Ensure that the roots are not bent or curved

Remember when transplanting you are messing with the life blood of the tree – the root system. If you don’t heed the rules above your transplants may appear healthy because you are watering them everyday but once put in the ground, the chances of survival and particularly longevity are extremely low.

If ever you would like to see an example of how things should look, please come to our nursery.

A well filled tube

More sun & sooner: plants are being delivered stronger and healthier as a result of receiving maximum sunshine from the earlier stages. Well done!

A poorly filled tube

A healthy box of Acacia pycnantha seedlings

Tell your friendsDid you enjoy growing this

year? If so, please spread the word as we always need more growers. Your friends can register their interest in growing next season by phoning 8406 0500.