Hey Rocky and the rest of Central Queensland, it’s time to get into that planting mode as next Sunday is National Tree Day.
I believe National Tree Day provides one of best family outings of the year.
Added to that is that since starting in 1996 over 26 million native trees have been planted across the country.
So polish up their green thumbs and come on down to Yeppen Lagoon off Blackall Street.
There are three National Tree Day community planting sessions at Yeppen Lagoon this Sunday to choose from, starting at 8am, 9am and 10am.
Remember you will need to register to secure a spot for the National Tree Day Community Planting Session at Yeppen Lagoon.
This can be done at the Registration Marquee or on the National Tree Day web page and then roll up your sleeves and get planting.
But this is not only National Tree Day planting this Sunday as there are National Tree Day two planting sites in the Livingstone Shire.
Between 9.00 and 12 noon Sunday morning join other gardeners at Patterson Street Emu Park to restore the beach scrub that are located on fragile coastal dunes.
Then Sunday afternoon at the Capricorn Caves the Capricorn Conservation Council and the Cap Coast Eco Warriors are conducting Semi-evergreen Vine Thicket, Plant and Propagate session at the Capricorn Caves.
Dr Bob Newby as well as other experts will be there sharing there knowledge with those attending. This event will operate from 2.00 to 4.00pm Sunday, meeting at the Capricorn Caves Kiosk.
Also when you attend one of these National Tree Day sites I would recommend bringing hat, gloves, sunscreen, and a pick and shovel to assist planting the trees.
What you may not know is that the Rockhampton Region is one of only four communities within Australia that has participated in every Planet Ark’s National Tree Day.
With the seeds were sown in Rockhampton, when the first community National Tree Day planting event was held in the grounds of the Sisters of Mercy’s Range Village.
That day fifty people from across the Rockhampton Region showed up to plant 300 understory Native Plants within the park at the Range Village.
Following that event the Rockhampton Regional Council has conducted a tree planting for National Tree Day every year since.
In the process transformed many waterways in the city.
National Tree Day is such a great opportunity for you to get involved with your local environment and experience the many benefits of spending time outdoors.
And to celebrate National Tree Day, you can even take home a free native plant for your own yard!
When planting trees in open areas, it is always important to dig a hole at least twice the size and twice the width of the pot from which the plant has been removed.
A soil mixture containing at least 50 per cent vegetable matter, a moisture retention agent, and a well-drained sandy loam is best to go around the young plant.
I would always recommend using a combination of a slow-release fertiliser, such as Osmocote, in conjunction with an organic low-phosphorous granulated fertiliser such as Blood and Bone.
When planting young tree seedlings in exposed positions, placing a clear plastic tree tube, commercially known as Grow Tube, will help protect the young plant from wind and leaf-eating animals.
It will also gather condensation on the inside to help increase the moisture around the base of the plant, and are usually best supported by placing three or four tomato stakes around the inside circumference of the tree tube.
When planting large quantities of tree seedlings in exposed conditions where a regular supply of water is not available, it is well worth considering recycling your old two litre milk and soft drink containers, as these will allow the tree seedling to acquire sufficient water to sustain plant growth for a period of up to seven days.
What is required is for a heated needle to be spiked through the lid of the container to allow the water to drip slowly through it, and then place it, lid down, as close as possible to the seedling, and preferably slightly buried in the ground.
In some circumstances, a small stake and ties may be required to support the container.
What many people may not realise is that there also Schools Tree Day planting as well.
With many of our Central Queensland schools participating in this event yesterday.
