Contract Growing Services
Contract growing is one of the many services Wai-Ora provides for ecological restoration projects. As we gear up for the upcoming autumn season, we invite you to take proactive steps by placing your orders now. Whether you’re a council, a biodiversity community group, a farmer, or a lifestyle block owner, our comprehensive services cater to all of Canterbury.
Successful Planting
To ensure the success of your planting project, we encourage you to schedule a consultation with Tom Ferguson, our Resident Botanist and leader of our Consulting Team. Tom can visit your site and compile a plant list by inspecting the planting site to understand the conditions and type of terrain. He looks at the site’s current condition, visits local bush remnants and compiles a plant list and project plan.
The Three-Year Schedule
Embarking on a successful ecological restoration journey requires thoughtful planning and a strategic timeline. A minimum three-year commitment to implement a revegetation plan is recommended, with a suggested two-year lead time for those contemplating such projects. This foresight proves crucial as it allows for the collection and preparation of plant material from local bush remnants, ensuring a well-prepared foundation for propagation.
Seed collection, a pivotal aspect of the process, is conducted during the summer and autumn seasons. However, patience is key, as it takes a full two years to transform collected seeds into a viable, plantable product. Opting for seed-grown plants not only extends the timeline but also contributes to the establishment of a healthier ecosystem with greater genetic diversity. In cases where obtaining sufficient numbers of a particular species poses challenges, a flexible approach involves supplementing with cutting-grown plants. It is advisable, though, to limit these supplements to less than 20% of the entire species within the project to maintain the desired genetic diversity.
While a three-year commitment might initially appear daunting, it serves as a proactive measure to alleviate pressure and ensure the selection of the right species from the right sources. The first year of the project involves initiating planting with the available species, including site preparation in late summer and commencing planting in early autumn. In Canterbury, this tends to be after the first rainfall of winter. As the project progresses into late spring each year, attention shifts to the maintenance of the initial planting stage. This phase includes vital tasks such as weed and pest management, along with activities like plant releasing (removing plant guards) and replanting if necessary, ensuring a robust and thriving ecosystem takes root.
The second year will be the main planting year. Usually, 80% of the planting occurs at this time, following the same schedule as the first year. Then in the third year, slower-growing species like Matai, Totara and Kahikatea are ready for planting and round out the planting species selection. These slow-growing species are often left out of planting projects but are vital to well-balanced planting in most areas of Canterbury. As happens before any planting, a round of maintenance to control weeds will need to happen alongside any plant releasing. This is the opportunity to monitor the success of the planting, an often forgotten part of planting programmes.
In essence, this meticulous three-year timeline not only allows for the unhurried development of plant material but also ensures that each stage of the project receives the attention and care it deserves, culminating in a successful ecological restoration venture.
Planning Ahead with Contract Growing
If you have already made progress in organizing your plant list and have a clear strategy for your project, reaching out to Tiffany Cavanaugh in our nursery is the next step to streamline the process. By providing Tiffany with a detailed list that includes plant names, quantities, and preferred grades, she can offer you a competitive quote tailored to your specific needs.
It’s important to note that we specialize in growing Canterbury eco-sourced plants, emphasizing the significance of using locally sourced flora even in smaller-scale projects like gardens. Tiffany, with her expertise, can recommend suitable Canterbury plants that align with your landscape plans, ensuring that you contribute to preserving the genetic diversity of Canterbury’s flora.
Opting for a growing contract with us not only secures a favourable price but also saves you valuable time in the sourcing process. This approach guarantees the availability of the plants you need, eliminating uncertainties. Making prior arrangements with a reliable grower is key to ensuring that you obtain truly eco-sourced plants appropriate for your ecological zone precisely when you need them for planting.
Our growing agreements are versatile, catering not only to large-scale projects but also to smaller domestic and commercial endeavors. Whether it’s for a boundary shelter, a hedge, or a commercial landscaping project, we can meet your requirements. Typically, our growing agreements involve volumes exceeding 100 plants, and depending on the nature and scale of your request, deposits and progress payments may apply.
Join a list of satisfied clients that includes councils, biodiversity community groups, farmers, and lifestyle block owners who have benefited from our services. By contacting us now, you take the first step toward a successful and sustainable planting project. Your commitment to native planting is an investment in the future of our environment, and we eagerly anticipate being your trusted partner in this endeavour.