Remove Gorse(Ulex europeans) with New Zealand Native bush

Step 9: Reference

gorse images: Walter Stahel, Murray Severinsen Environment Bay of Plenty
gorse polluting water ways
http://www.scionresearch.com/media+releases.aspx?PageContentID=1010

Metcalf, 2007, The propagation of New Zealand Native Plants

Comments

[nullpainter]

This instructable is absolutely fantastic. We've just bought a rural property with gorse and I previously had absolutely zero idea what to do. This instructable is clear, logical and encourages understanding and empowerment - really great.

I do have one question though, in that the gorse bushes on my property are predominantly on a bank with our back lawn at the base of the bank. The back lawn has tiny bits of gorse growing throughout (which the dogs hate!). I started grubbing it out, but then wondered if I was fighting a losing battle if it was being propagated from the larger bushes.

Is it therefore prudent to cut back some of the large bushes for the sake of my lawn, or recommended just to wait it out?

[agatornz]

ah one of my old stamping grounds - lived in welly for 10 years:-) how big is the bank area? is there mature gorse over the boundary also? - any kind of shade you can put over the gorse will take it out and slow or stop the re growth... of course your ideal is the tea tree's inter planted with the gorse - with extra care and attention lavished on them - ie: summer mulching, weeding and watering you may be able to get a fast tea tree cover ( ask the nursery experts on that one but in ideal conditions i have seen tea tree put on amazing height in a couple of years - ...

[nullpainter]

The bank is around 1500m2. The boundary on this problem side is our driveway so we are able to control it. Now to find some Manuka! Thanks again for your advice.

[agatornz]

recommend you get hold of " the propagation of NewZealand Native Plants, Lawrie metcalf, 2007 isbn:978-1-86962-131-5"

its explains how to make simply propagtion houses, and the various methods useful for each plant type... or of course if you have cash, and no interest in propagation then find a wholesale nursery in the wellington area ( always get stock from as close to the area you are planting ) Native plants rarely need much care other than perhaps a handful of magamp a little distance below the root ball - and a little water occasionally if that... as mentioned in instructable its often a good thing to go for as stroll in a naturally regenerating area and you will note how things work.. and which plants work the best.... the eastern hills of lower hut used to be a great example...

[nullpainter]

Thanks! I'll check it out :)

[agatornz]

hey ,

thanks for your comments ;-)

and in answer to your question - yes you are pretty much fighting a loosing battle until the gorse up the bank has been suffocated by natives...
This is because gorse propels its seeds out of the seed capsules during summer ( listen for "crack" in a gorse patch in the height of summer;-) )

every flower you see has a bunch of seeds at the base to be donated to your lawn, and the other problem is that the seeds are said to remain viable un germinated up to 70years:-)

so yes in the short term the only thing you could do would be to keep the gorse cut back enough that no flowers are showing to disperse in the heat - although that wont stop the trunks re sprouting madly and all the seeds already in the ground going - whooooohooo - sunlight at last - woosh....

The best answer for your lawn is a nice bank of native bush ... and this is good for the bank also - keeping it moist but stopping it from sliding away;-)

of course grubbing is always way better for you then going to the gym,... well apart from your sore back....?

hope that answers the question - are you in Newzealand?

[nullpainter]

Sigh - I feared as much! It's so tempting to attack the gorse with my new and shiny brush cutter, but I will practice restraint. :)

Yes, we're in Wellington on the edge of the Belmont Regional Park.

[cybersleuth]

You have certainly put the instruct in instruct-ables!
I live on the other side of the globe, as far north as you are south, where it is as cold as you are hot, and I've never even seen a gorse bush -- and yet this instructable is 100% relevant for me. Your careful explanation of the process gives me the insight I need to analyze and work with the plants growing in ary area, even one as different as mine. Thanks for the giving us the why with the how.

[agatornz]

wonderful thanks:-) nice to get your feed back - and yep it sure took some writing but i am glad you find it useful... love to hear about any applications you discover for the same method.. [e-mail]