Gardening Guides
Be a gardening legend with step-by-step instructions on how to grow a wide range of plants, what to plant when, how to combat pests and diseases, plus extra tips and tricks to get your garden flourishing.
Be a gardening legend with step-by-step instructions on how to grow a wide range of plants, what to plant when, how to combat pests and diseases, plus extra tips and tricks to get your garden flourishing.
What are the things to consider when planting Mānuka trees? Is Mānuka easy to grow? How long will it take for a Mānuka tree to grow from seed? We hope to answer your questions on growing Mānuka trees in this article.
The Mānuka, also known as kahikātoa (Leptospermum scoparium) is a special perennial and resilient plant. Sometimes, it is referred to as "tea-tree”, a name given to it by Captain Cook as they used the Mānuka leaves to make tea. Interestingly, they also brewed twigs from the Mānuka plant with rimu to make beer.
Mānuka/kahikātoa flowers have a very sweet smell. Their flowers are an important source of pollen and nectar for native bees, flies, moths and other insects. Mānuka flowers bloom in warmer seasons like summer and spring.
Early settlers in New Zealand used to struggle to clear their land of Mānuka trees as they were treated as invasive shrubs. Later on, however, significant research has been conducted about the Mānuka properties and benefits. Today, the Mānuka plant is considered a vital tool for rejuvenating New Zealand forests.
Where does it grow?
Mānuka/kahikātoa is common throughout New Zealand in lowland to low alpine areas up to 1800 m above sea level. It can be found in wetlands, river gravels and dry hillsides. It can even be found around active geothermal areas. The mature Mānuka tree is very tolerant of drought, strong winds and frost and it can grow at less fertile, colder, wetter and more acidic sites than the kānuka variety.
How to Grow Mānuka trees
Whilst the Mānuka is a hardy native plant, its seedlings are quite vulnerable to external factors like drought, weeds and animals.
| Stage | Growth Period | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Seed germination | 10 days to germinate from seed | Seeds are quite sensitive and an incorrect amount of fertiliser risks burning them. It is best to allow the seed to germinate in controlled conditions without fertiliser. |
| Germination to seedling | 3 months - From a baby to about 5 to 6 inches tall | Once the seedling is about 50mm tall, it’s safer to transfer the seedling to a PB2 bag and add slow-release fertilisers. It’s important to use high-quality potting mix. |
| Seedling to 2 ft plant | 6 to 8 months | Keep the plant well-watered. They love the sun. |
| Plant to tree | Mānuka trees can live up to 60 years. Typically, it grows from 2-5 meters but it can grow up to 15 meters in certain conditions. | Very hardy. Can tolerate harsh winds, drought. |
Extra care notes:
1. Some people plant the seedlings directly into the ground. However, the seedlings are susceptible to damage or competition for survival, especially against weeds.
2. Rabbits and deer sometimes eat the seedlings.
3. If you plant the seedlings directly to the ground, consider the location. They need to be well-watered, especially in the early stages (up to about 2 months or so).
4. In some cases, some plants develop black soot and die. The black soot is a fungus living on the excretion of a scale insect. It is these insects that suck the life out of the plant over a period of time. Spraying the plants with an insecticide would fix the problem. Even something like neem oil would help.
Mānuka’s benefits to the environment:
1. Their roots help prevent soil erosion.
2. Perfect nurse crops. Nurse crops foster the development of other plant species by creating shade and shelter from the harsh winds.
Mānuka benefits to the wider economy:
1. Mānuka honey is a well-known industry. The honey produced from the Mānuka plant is also claimed to have many useful properties.
2. In recent years, New Zealand annually exports a staggering amount of Mānuka-based products (in the hundreds of millions).
3. Planting and maintaining native plants or bushes such as the Mānuka on farmland improves land value. There are also innovative initiatives that promote leasing Mānuka farmlands for beekeeping.
4. In some cases, some plants develop black soot and die. The black soot is a fungus living on the excretion of a scale insect. It is these insects that suck the life out of the plant over a period of time. Spraying the plants with an insecticide would fix the problem. Even something like neem oil would help.
How can you help?
1. As much as possible, refrain from using Mānuka as firewood.
2. Spread awareness about the benefits of Mānuka.
3. Educate more people about how they can grow Mānuka trees on their land.
4. Let's plant more natives!
Mānuka seedlings are available at Awapuni nurseries in 2 great value options: Mānuka 25 Seedling Combo $30 - 25 Mānuka seedlings - 25 Slow-release fertiliser tablets - 25 PB2 Bags Mānuka 100 Seedling Combo $90 - 100 Mānuka seedlings - 100 Slow-release fertiliser tablets - 100 PB2 Bags
Awapuni nurseries grow radiata pine commercially and can handle huge volume orders fit for10h to 100-hectare plantations.
The Radiata pine is a towering, fast-growing evergreen tree (up to 60 meters & up to 2-meter diameter), that is widely planted and seen in New Zealand forests. It is a versatile, low-maintenance conifer that is widely-used as timber, globally. Known for its strength, it can tolerate coastal to sub-alpine conditions. If not harvested for its timber, it can live up to 150 years.
Where does it grow?
The radiata pine is endemic to southern California and northern Mexico. However, arguably, New Zealand gives it the best conditions to flourish productively. It’s the most commonly planted and grown pine in the world and the most popular commercial timber species in New Zealand. It can live in low to moderate altitudes and can handle little to high rainfall. The radiata pine thrives really well on free draining to moderate free draining soil. This evergreen conifer can withstand strong winds even and warm to cold temperature.
Radiata Pine Plantation Best Practices
Over the years, massive amounts of research and innovation have been done on pinus radiata to support sustainable practices. Here are some tactics used in many scenarios (context considered):
1. Protection of indigenous ecosystems is a significant consideration.
2. Riparian strips, preferably with native species, greater than 10 m wide.
3. Careful (limited) use of herbicide sprays during the establishment phase.
4. Leave coarse and fine woody debris generated during logging on site.
5. Monitor stand density - look after understorey getting shaded out if stand density is high. If it's too low, monitor weed growth.
6. Use longer rotations.
7. Minimise disturbance during logging operations.
8. Plan for management of endangered species.
9. Constantly improve local and community relationships. Encourage feedback and social learning.
Best growing conditions for the Radiata Pine
1. Deep sandy loams with think duff layer
2. Moderately sheltered, slightly shady sites
3. Sloped, well-draining areas
Radiata pine benefits to the environment:
1. They protect the land from soil erosion due to heavy rain.
2. They provide shelter to wildlife and improve biodiversity.
3. Pine forests clean our air and our streams.
Radiata pine benefits to the society:
1. The development of pine forests for recreation and well-being opportunities is a great benefit to the businesses, locals and tourists.
2. Forests make beautiful landscapes and create stunning views.
3. Reduce devastating landslides.
Radiata pine benefits to the environment:
1. They protect the land from soil erosion due to heavy rain.
2. They provide shelter to wildlife and improve biodiversity.
3. Pine forests clean our air and our streams.
Radiata pine benefits to the society:
1. The development of pine forests for recreation and well-being opportunities is a great benefit to the businesses, locals and tourists.
2. Forests make beautiful landscapes and create stunning views.
3. Reduce devastating landslides.
The New Zealand Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS)
Trees are amazing for carbon dioxide absorption through their natural food processing mechanism called photosynthesis. However, not all trees are created equal and some absorb more CO2 than others. Pinus radiata’s carbon absorption research results are very favourable classifying it as one of the best ones absorbing up to 1000 tonnes of carbon over 25 years.
The New Zealand government has earmarked a budget of $238 million to support its target of one billion trees by 2028. This is one of the steps that New Zealand is taking to meet its obligations under the Paris agreement of 200 million tonnes of reductions across the economy by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change.
This is a massive opportunity for forest owners in New Zealand to make a claim in NZ emission units (NZUs) as their tree plantations absorb CO2.
New Zealand has an Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) to encourage reduction of emissions domestically. The ETS puts a price on greenhouse gas emissions in the form of New Zealand units (NZU). One NZU is equal to 1 tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent. Sectors that absorb greenhouse gases, such as forestry, can earn and trade NZUs. On the other hand, industry sectors that produce greenhouse gases are required to purchase and surrender NZUs to the Government.
The transport, energy, industrial processing, waste, and forestry sectors are fully included in the ETS and are obligated to surrender units for emissions. The agriculture sector reports emissions in the ETS, but is not obligated to surrender units.
Returns on forest plantations emission trading:
Estimated returns could be beneficial, with a forest absorbing 50 tonnes a hectare a year generating $1200 a ha/year in carbon credits at a unit price of $25
Eligibility criteria:
1. Established bare land after Jan 1, 1990
2. Forest size at least 1 hectare (30 m in width, at maturity must have 30% canopy cover and 5m tall
3. Trees need to be spaced within 15m
Further information on this link (New Zealand ETS).
How can you help?
1. Promote sustainable forestry management and practices.
2. Encourage small scale harvesting, research and innovation and training.
3. Support local reforestation initiatives.
4. Join a community planting day.
5. Plant trees on your land.
6. Let's protect our forests!
Awapuni nurseries grow radiata pine commercially and can handle huge volume orders fit for 10h to 100-hectare plantations. We still have a some plants available right now. We are taking orders for radiata pine tree seedlings for 2024. 2023 orders - fully allocated.
Orders must be in before 1st April 2022. For more information, please contact Henri at 021 340 300 or email henri@awapuni.co.nz
Click here for details and pricing.
Further reading resources:
Radiata Pine
NZFFA Resource 1 on Radiata Pine
NZFFA Resource 2 on Radiata Pine