Maintenance of the Karamu plantings is an ongoing task. Weed control has to be done regularly within the first 4 years while the native plants get established.
Generally we try to keep an area around each native plant free of weeds to avoid it having to compete for sunlight, water and nutrients.
Sometimes between weeding sessions planted areas can look very untidy and overgrown, however if you look carefully you will see the natives growing quite happily amongst them. In some cases a covering of annual weeds (weeds that die off each autumn) can even help protect growing natives during the harsh Hawke's Bay Summer - so sometimes we are happy to let these grow. We recognised there will be a period where things look worst before they get better especially in the first few seasons after planting.
How can I help with maintenance?
Weed management is undertaken by Council about five times a year – mostly in the summer months when weed growth is fastest and prior to any planting sessions. KEG and SCHNEHG undertake maintenance sessions on a regular basis and focus on specific areas of the Karamu. Find out more here. Please bring along good gardening gloves, sun hat, water to drink, a weed removing tool (eg small fork or trowel, etc) and a sense of humour.
Cabbage tree with area of cleared (sprayed) weeds