Tree Care

Tree Care - 2009 - putting in marker stakes

Putting in a white-tipped bamboo marker stake so new trees can be located for later monitoring and releasing.
Grass and weed growth could easily hide or even smother them otherwise.

In gardening terms, tree care means weeding, staking and mulching, pruning - particularly those trees planted in the previous 2 years.

Just as your flowers and vegetable plants need regular attention by weeding, staking and mulching, so the young trees in the "Long Garden" (Maara Roa) cannot just be planted and abandoned.

Tree Care - 2009 - putting in a support stake

Putting in a support stake (25mm garden stake 1200mm tall) for those trees that need support against the wind on exposed slopes

The Tree Care programme for Maara Roa means visiting every tree planted in the last 2 years:

  • assessing its health
  • applying or removing the hare protectors (which prevent hares and rabbits eating and killing the seedlings)
  • applying cardboard collars (that help prevent weed growth around the seedling, and keep moisture in the soil)
  • inserting or removing white-tipped bamboo marker stakes (used to find seedlings among future grass and weed growth)
  • applying a support stake to trees on exposed windy slopes
  • removing support stakes once the trees are established
Tree Planting - new seedlings get plastic protection from hares and rabbits, and a cardboard collar to discourage weeds

New seedlings get plastic protection from hares and rabbits, and a cardboard collar to discourage weeds and keep roots moist.


We even prune back the tree lucerne, our rapid-growing exotic shelter crop, to reduce the likelihood of wind damage and to keep it in control.

This work is carried out in summer, autumn and spring, while planting is carried out in the winter and early spring only.



So, the more Tree Care we do, the better the survival rate of our young trees!

Volunteers and their tree care days