One for the Gardeners - What to Plant

[bitingmidge]

Now that sounds more like it - would work for the larger plants, yes? Just like putting them in a clay pot. People pay big money for those terracotta ones. My block is just one great big terracotta pot.

No. Clay pots actually provide a very dry environment through evaporation throught the terracotta.

What you are doing is putting them in a bucket of water.

Cheers,

P

[bitingmidge]

I thought of getting a rotary hoe into it Midge, but do they make them in a 4WD variety?

Yep they do, they are called mini tractors and you need a tiller bar for the back.

That's why most of our friends who are desperate enough to live on acreage actually do: so they can play with tractors and use words like "power take-off" and "bucket" and "tiller" and stuff like that.

You see there's plenty of other bits more deserving of our attention (seem to be no shortage of those on acerage ). I was just looking for the easy way out. Maybe I could just throw some top soil and mukch at it and see what takes root.

Won't work without the mulch, and if you try the dig a hole approach you'll end up with a clump of weeds where you did. The easy way out, is to get hydra mulch in. I said easy, not particularly cheap.

Basically its a mix of old newspapers, a bit of fertilizer, and a brew of seeds designed to germinate in the conditions you have, ie the seeds for ground covers, shrubs and trees designed for clay and your climate.

The seeds bind in the paper, it acts as a mulch and eventually you have bushland. It's mostly used beside new roadworks, or where there is tons of planting to do, there may be a supplier near you.
[/QUOTE]

Cheers,

P (too lazy for acreage, but love visiting other people's)

[AlexS]

You could try Hardenbergia - native creeper with purple flower. Seemed to grow OK in pipeclay in Tumut.

Alternatively, Triffids.

[namtrak]

Gypsum and Mulch

Mulch and Gypsum

[rick_rine]

Gazanias ( african daisies ) are also good in this instance . They too are easily grown from cuttings ( cheap ) but are available in a huge range of colours .

[Iain]

Blackberries, very hardy and provide a wonderful ground cover

[bitingmidge]

Wot Namtrak sez!

P

[Andy Mac]

I'd be looking at the ground cover Grevilleas; Hardenbergias and Westringias too, but whenever I've planted them I build up a mound of lighter soil.
I agree with the comments about working the clay initially. The grains are fine and close together, so the water runs straight orff with no chance to soak in. I'd be planting into little terraces of well worked soil, with gypsum and compost/organic matter, but not too much manure if you're shoving in natives. And use a wetting agent like Wettasoil to help soak up any water. Then mulch mulch mulch. Jeez I'm starting to talk like Burkie:eek:
I've been working with acres of water repellant soil, and watching droplets form on the dust and not soaking in was a bit of an eye opener . Gradually joining up islands of real soil is my approach.

Cheers,

[Harry72]

Yep most of the Grevillea ground covers like clay... the Hardenbergia's are quite tolerant too.
I asked me Mum!(resident australian native expert)

Wot Namtrak sez!

Tis correct!

[silentC]

I might post a pic of the site when I get a chance. I can't really see a machine being able to work it, so it's likely a manual job and this stuff is HARD. Mattock and crowbar material.

Thanks for all the info and advice, I will absorb it all and go and visit my local garden supplier. Will also get on to the local council (thanks for that tip Clinton) and see if they have any recommendations and/or freebies (I love freebies).

[oges]

Perhaps someone can place an anonymous tip to the AFP saying you have a stash of weapons buried on your property, they will then come along and dig up the soil for you .. but you might have a hard time getting them to do the planting for you

[bitingmidge]

Silent,

I can only reinforce: ACREAGE IN THIS COUNTRY IS NOT SUITABLE FOR HABITATION UNLESS THERE IS A FERGY
IN THE SHED

[Iain]

Your link didn't work but I assume you were talking about the Kubota

[silentC]

Are you playing silly buggers there Mr Midge? How am I going to plow my paddocks with an ultra light aircraft? Called the Fergy :eek: Do you have to suck it's toes to achieve lift off or something?

[bitingmidge]

Your link didn't work but I assume you were talking about the Kubota

KUBOTA???? :eek: :eek: :eek:

That sounds like some sort of Asian Flu!!

Fixed the link now!!

P