Trees and planned future planting

It is still Summer here in Tasmania but we have already started thinking about our winter activities. Due to the strong winds we can get here in Cremorne (and in all of Tasmania for that sake) we want to put in a big windbreak on the western edge of our property, that is between the pasture and the lagoon parts of the property.

Private Forests Tasmania ( http://www.privateforests.tas.gov.au/body.htm ) is a government supported body that gives assistance to people wanting to plant forests or trees on their private land. One of the services they offer is to rent out a ripper and mounder that can be used to prepare the soil before planting. It is recommended that this is done from 6 to 18 months before the planting takes place. The current cost is only AUD 40 per hectare and this includes delivery of the ripper/mounder to your property, as well as collection when you are finished.

We will get this ripper/mounder delivered to us on Monday and a local neighbour (with a big tractor) will then do the work for us. However, in order to prepare for this we had to have the grass slashed where we will put in the mounds for the trees, something the same neighbour did yesterday. The idea is to put in 3 rows of trees all along the lagoon. As such, we will have to put in between 500 and 600 trees this coming winter. A generous Christmas present from Geir's parents and grand parents has made sure that we have enough money for all the trees and most of the irrigation pipes needed, but the soil will have to be prepared so that we won't break our backs digging in the clay.

We are planting the trees on the lagoon side of the fence currently in place. This fence has probably been there since Adam was a little boy and is great need of being replace, but that is something we will just have to worry about in the future. A quick calculation of the area which will be used for the trees showed us that we will be using between 4000 and 5000m2 for 3 rows, each row having between 150 and 200 trees.

As some of you will know, we planted quite a few threes last winter as well, around the mounds and on top of the mounds. Here are a few pictures to show how they have grown after about 6 months:

Banksia Marginata - common name is just "Banksia"

Black wood - not sure about the Latin name

Eucalyptus Globulus, or Blue Gum

Acacia Sophorae - or Coastal Wattle

Acacia Mucronata - or Narrow leaf Wattle

We also planted some Hop Wattle (Acacia Stricta), but we don't have a picture of this just now.

OK, with 3 entries for today, that is enough time in front of the computer. By next entry we should have managed to complete the last part of the office wall with one coat of render. Then we have to put in the windows, fix the polystyrene and cement sheets around the slab, do the second coat of render on the outside, and finally start the inside - with plasterboard walls etc. As such, still lots to do, but very nice to know that the external walls are soon completed !!!

Any problems, please email webmaster. This page was last updated 24/07/2008