Taking care with weed management after fires
Submitted By: sgraham
Location: Bega Valley, NSW
Land Type: Rural Retreat
Affected by Severe Weather?: Bushfires
What weed/s are you managing?
Generic
What is your weed management strategy?
Help people and soils recover after fires
What have you learnt about managing weeds this way?
Embrace emotions. Restore soils. Take things slowly.
What have been the benefits and drawbacks?
I have learnt three things about managing weeds after the fires. First, recognise and allow time for emotions. Second, restore the soils. Third, take things slowly. EMBRACE EMOTIONS. It is important to recognise that your land is emotionally significant. When you are struck by a sudden fire, you are going to feel normal emotions of overwhelm and distress, and almost repugnance to go into the garden or on your land because it’s a reminder of the fires, everything is burnt and black, and you might want to turn your back on it. It’s really important to voice those feelings and take things slowly. It’s okay to grieve. Focus on a small part of the block and what you want to restore it to. RESTORE SOILS. Part of the process may need to be about restoring the soils. After the fires and high heat winds, I found that the soil can become compounded and distressed; the soil became very dry and seemed to stop absorbing water. I found that the soil needed enhancing with a soil solvent. It helps plants to uptake water from the plant. TAKE THINGS SLOWLY. When I walk around with a client I say to them, "Right, what is your primary area that you want to start off with? Is it the very front, or is it, you know, what is your area that you love the most that you want to see worked on first?" And that’s where we start from. You section it, you plan it, and you consistently work on it. Weeding is a way of tending to the garden and making progress. It’s not about having the perfect garden, it’s about having progress, not perfection. I find it is really important to take photos to show your progress. Photo credit: J Marshal.
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