Our planet needs more trees!! Can you help us plant them??? Get your hands dirty and plant trees in your local area in a place that you may or may not have permission... On Saturday 20th of June we will plant trees and any other plants that benefit our precious ecosystems and human society. You source some plants and find an area of underutilised land (e.g. parkland, vacant lot, road and rail reserves, your front verge) and show your love for our planet by planting something. Show the world and post your efforts to social media #dirtyrebellion Rebel for life. ************************************************** Things you will need: • common sense • trees • planting tools - spade, trowel, mattock • container of water • A camera • BONUS POINTS - compost and mulch ************************************************** Choosing a site: Look for somewhere that is underutilised and not likely to cause anyone problems when a tree is planted. Edges of reticulated parklands, verges, long vacant lots, public land along rivers and drains are all great spots to plant a tree. Remember you may need to Dial before you DIg to find out if there are underground services that may be damaged by digging a hole or tree roots. Its free and you can do this online. www.1100.com.au ************************************************** Choosing a tree Plants for wildlife - plant locally native trees, these trees are best suited to the climate and soils types. Some exotic trees are also favoured by certain species of native wildlife, but generally locally native trees are best. E.g. Wattles, Marri, eucalypts, sheoak, banksia, bottlebrush, paperbarks, everlastings Plants for food - feeding ourselves in the future will rely on abundant perennial food trees. But choosing trees that will survive in our climate and soils with little to no extra watering or care requires some thought. The tree must be drought resistant and heat hardy. Many food producing trees are also useful to wildlife. e.g. figs, mulberry, carob, citrus, grape vines, sweet potato, sunflowers, broad beans Other useful plants e.g. tagasaste, liquid amber, cork oak, holm oak ************************************************** Planting: 1. Water plants in pots before planting. 2. Dig a hole 2 times as wide as pot, an extra 1/3rd deeper. 3. Fill hole with water. 4. Remove plant from pot and place in hole. 5. Once water has drained from hole, backfill and incorporate compost. 6. Leave a depression around base of plant - this will help capture extra rainfall. 7. Water plant again and spread mulch over disturbed area. 10cm thick, 1 metre diameter. 8. Take a photo and share it #dirtyrebellion.