Post-establishment management
There is a perception that a sown native plant community may be considered a permanent planting. However, depending on the severity of damage to the original grassland structure and function, some manipulation by appropriate management or on-going seeding may be required to achieve the desired goal. The interval between post-establishment management activities will be influenced by the species involved as well as the climatic conditions.
Management activities may include burning, herbicide treatment, grazing or slashing. Whatever the activities, the reason they are undertaken will be the same—to enhance the health of the sowing. For example, the removal of accumulated plant litter that can impede light penetration might be required to expose new growth points to sunlight and re-cycle nutrients held in old plant growth. Invasive weed species that may overrun plantings should also be managed, particularly in the early years following sowing. Slashing or grazing can have a similar result to burning for some species (see 6.1). Local NSW Agriculture agronomists and DLWC advisory staff can advise on appropriate grazing management practices.
