This section will help you to save time and money by choosing the right plants for the right site. Plants in the wrong site will grow poorly, are likely to die, or may contribute to the risk of flooding.
The focus of the section is on plants for bare sites. Depending on your goals for the project, you may wish to come back and plant other species once the initial plants are established and there is more shelter. This will increase the biodiversity.
The 'zones' to be planted
Guide to help you distinguish the different zones in the riparian margin. Zones determine what can be planted where. ..
Hardy plant table
A list of hardy species best suited to initial riparian plantings on open, exposed sites in Canterbury. Most are readily available fro ..
Only plant what you have the time to maintain:
If you are planning on planting a section of your stream – congratulations you have made a great decision!
Before you start, however, think about how much maintenance you can manage each year. If you plan to plant 1000 plants, that's 1000 plants you will have to keep clear of weeds for at least 3 years.
Once the plantings are at the point where they do not require much maintenance, the project can be extended further along the stream.
Nature knows best:
If there are existing native plants on the riparian margin of your stream, it is usually best to leave them, regardless of whether they fit with the suggested planting zones on this website.