From Trees to Turf: TerraCottem at Work Across New Zealand
From establishing new trees in challenging soils to supporting coastal revegetation and managed sports turf, recent projects across New Zealand are demonstrating the versatility of the TerraCottem range in real-world planting environments.
TerraCottem New Zealand recently shared an update on several projects across the region, showing how different TerraCottem products are being selected to suit different planting applications, site conditions and establishment goals.
The TerraCottem products featured across these projects were supplied by Landscape & Grower Supplies (LGS), a local TerraCottem distributor in New Zealand.
As an Australian supplier of the TerraCottem range, we wanted to share these projects with our StrataGreen customers. While the locations may be across the Tasman, many of the challenges are familiar — from establishing trees in difficult soils and supporting native revegetation through to creating the right root-zone conditions for high-performance turf.
Let's take a closer look at TerraCottem at work.
Ben Burn Park, Wellington
TerraCottem Universal | Tree Establishment
After several unsuccessful planting attempts at Ben Burn Park in Wellington, TerraCottem Universal was incorporated into the planting of new pōhutukawa trees.
The project highlights an important consideration when establishing trees: sometimes the challenge isn't necessarily what's happening above ground, but the growing conditions below it.
By incorporating TerraCottem Universal into the soil at planting, the project aimed to improve conditions within the root zone and support the trees through the important establishment period.
For landscape professionals dealing with sites where previous planting has struggled, it's a useful example of looking below the surface and considering how the planting environment itself can be improved to give new trees a stronger start.
Coastal Revegetation, Tauranga
TerraCottem Universal | Native Revegetation
From urban trees to native revegetation, establishing plants in an exposed coastal environment can present a very different set of challenges.
At a coastal revegetation project in Tauranga, TerraCottem Universal was incorporated into the planting program to help improve growing conditions and support the establishment of native plants for long-term growth.
It's an application particularly relevant to Australian revegetation and environmental restoration projects, where seedlings may need to establish in challenging site conditions with limited access to water.
Supporting plants through those critical early stages can help give revegetation programs a stronger foundation for successful establishment.
Bromley Cemetery, Christchurch
TerraCottem Arbor | Tree Establishment
Back to trees, but this time with a different TerraCottem solution.
At Bromley Cemetery in Christchurch, new trees needed to establish within exposed, sandy site conditions.
For this project, TerraCottem Arbor was selected to help improve growing conditions and support healthy tree establishment, helping to reduce the risk of plant losses.
The project provides a relevant example for street trees, public open spaces and other high-value tree planting, where successful establishment from the beginning can be an important part of reducing replacement planting and ongoing aftercare.
Developed specifically for trees and woody plants, TerraCottem Arbor can form part of the planting approach where successful establishment and long-term tree performance are important considerations.
New Brighton Cricket Club, Christchurch
TerraCottem Turf | Sports Turf
From trees and revegetation, we move to the other end of the spectrum — managed sports turf.
At New Brighton Cricket Club, a Christchurch City Council evaluation looked at TerraCottem Turf applied in and around newly laid irrigation ditches.
The evaluation showed a positive effect from the TerraCottem application, providing another example of how TerraCottem can be incorporated into managed turf environments.
For turf managers, councils, sporting facilities, golf courses, racecourses and landscape professionals, supporting the root-zone environment can be particularly important where turf needs to establish evenly and perform under ongoing use.
TerraCottem Turf has been developed specifically for turf applications, providing another example of how the wider TerraCottem range can be matched to the needs of a particular project.
From Trees to Turf: Choosing the Right TerraCottem
One of the most interesting things about these New Zealand projects is the variety of applications they represent.
From pōhutukawa establishment at Ben Burn Park and native coastal revegetation in Tauranga, through to tree planting at Bromley Cemetery and sports turf at New Brighton Cricket Club, each project has different objectives and growing conditions.
Rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach, different products within the TerraCottem range can be selected according to the application.
TerraCottem Universal is an all-round soil conditioner suited to applications including general planting, gardens, horticulture and revegetation.
TerraCottem Arborr has been developed specifically for trees and woody plants, making it particularly relevant to urban tree planting and landscape projects where successful establishment and long-term performance are important.
TerraCottem Turf is designed specifically for turf applications, including lawns, sporting fields and other managed turf environments.
Across the range, TerraCottem is incorporated into the soil at planting, working within the root zone to help improve water retention, encourage root development and support more efficient use of water and nutrients.
The common thread is what happens below the surface.
What Can Australian Projects Take From This?
From trees to turf, these projects demonstrate how getting the conditions below the surface right from the beginning can play an important role in successful establishment.
While Wellington, Tauranga and Christchurch are a long way from many of the projects our customers are working on, the underlying challenges are certainly familiar.
Challenging soils, exposed planting locations, water availability, revegetation establishment, high-value tree planting and maintaining healthy turf are all considerations faced across Australian projects.
These New Zealand examples provide a useful look at how TerraCottem can be incorporated from the beginning of a project, with different products available to suit different planting applications and site requirements.
Whether you're establishing trees, native revegetation, commercial landscapes, gardens or managed turf, understanding the existing soil conditions and selecting an appropriate TerraCottem product can help create a better growing environment from day one.
Find the Right TerraCottem for Your Project
Working on a planting project here in Australia?
StrataGreen supplies the TerraCottem range across Australia, with solutions available for tree planting, general landscaping, revegetation, gardens, turf and more.
From choosing between Universal, Arbor and Turf to determining how TerraCottem should be incorporated into your planting program, our team can help you find the right solution for your application.
Explore the range online or speak with the StrataGreen team about your next project.
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