Planting along creekline.

24-6-09

ACTIVITIES: Glnn wanted a few more plants put up along the creekline of the Clarence campus.

This was a CLM project where the CLM students had already placed quite a large number of native plants along the creek line. The plants that we were to be placed up there were Eucalytus and a wattles. The type of soil was clay based and in some areas was fairly damp. The holes were dug out using a mattock and in most cases the soil was very easy to dig out.

Along the line of the creek bed a large number of rocks had been put into place. This would help with any future erosion from the creek and also rain water.

The new plants put along the creek line would also help any future erosion, once their roots were established.

It was interesting to compare the planting we had done the day before at the Mt Neslon Campus. The 2 sites were vastly different and it was good to work in that enviroment.

Once the plants were in the ground we placed 3 stakes round them, then plastic went over. This was used to stop animals from eating the plants. The bagging would also give the plants some shelter from the cold. The last step was to give all the plants a really good water.

TOOLS: Mattocks, spades, hammer.

PPE: Safety boots, eye protection, gloves.

OH&S: Splinters, eyes, mattock, muscular.

Mt Neson Campus Planting

23-6-09:

ACTIVITIES: Today the entire cert 2 crew visited the Mt Nelson College. Our tasks were to plant natives and to do some pruning. Upon arrival we were given a quick tour by the college groundsman. Terry from our the Clarence Campus then showed us what he wanted planted and where to plant them, we were split up into 3 groups. Our group was to tackle the front entrance area. Cameron showed us the correct proceedure in preparing the hole for planting. The hole was to be approx 4 times the size of the pot. The ground we were planting in was covered in fine finely crushed rock approx 5cm in diametre. The rock was carefully pushed aside so the soil was then exposed. The hole was dug out and the soil placed on black plastic or in a bucket. The plant was then placed in the hole and the soil carefully placed around the plant. Finally the rock was then placed back over where it was originally. The idea was to make it look as though we had never been there. We did not want the soil to end up mixed into the rock. The plants were later watered.

We also did a small amount of pruning. I worked on pruning back a Banksia marginata. This plant was around on the Eastern side of the buiding. It was thought to be too close to the building and was considered a fire hazzard.

TOOLS: Mattock, spades, wheelbarrow, bucket, rakes, secauteers.

PPE: Safety boots, eye protection, gloves.

OH&S: Muscular, mattock, eyes.

Birch Bed

20-05-09

ACTIVITIES: Remulch birch bed. Over the next 3 days it was decided that we should remulch the birch bed in front of the carpark. The first task was to pull out most of the existing weeds.

Any of the weeds containing seed heads were bagged so the seeds would not spread.

The weeds then taken up to the top area to be mulched. They were placed on the ground and run over with the lawn mower and then placed on the mulch pile.

Any weeds that were left were flattened down. The existing border around the bed was also redifined to give it a new shape and look. The bed was the raked and smoothed out as much as possible. The next step was to add gypsom over the entire bed to increase the pH. Approx 195 grams per square metre of soil was sprinkled over the bed. We then placed flattened out cardboard over the whole bed, this would stop most new and existing weeds from coming up through the garden bed.

The final step was to place down mulch over the bed aprrox 100mm thick.

The final result looked fantastic and gave the birch bed a new lease of life.

TOOLS: Spades, wheelbarrows, hoes, rakes, buckets, mattocks.

PPE: Safety boots, gloves, long pants and sleeves.

OH&S: Muscular, mattocks, eyes