Bermaculture….. from TurftoWildflowers

Bermaculture in Auckland is up for discussion as many people ponder what to do with berms while others take action to make berms a better place.

Some suggest the solution to Bermaculture is to plant these green corridors with fruit bearing plants. However most berms are not ideal for fruit trees to thrive due to-

  • Soil contamination from pesticide residue and heavy metal content
  • Limited root run, vertical space (overhead lines)and restricted width to grow outwards.

Parks and Reserves offer a better option

  • Utility service require access to underground pipes and cables that need to be dig up, serviced , replaced ….with the addition of new cables eg fibre optic
  • Vehicles and mowers will damage and kill trees
  • Storm water , sewage, paint, industrial and domestic chemical waste soak into berms, particularly during storms and heavy rainfall
  • Soil conditions not suitable for fruit tree active growth given the road construction fill
  • Question of who will be responsible for managing fruit trees eg pruning , plant health needs
  • Trees maybe subject to vandalismand theft.
  • Trees grow out over the road and impact on road safety.

Bermaculture……Wildflowers…

Benefits

  • Low maintanence bermaculture..low growing, free seed from mature palnts
  • Brings back the bees , other pollinators and beneficial insects…
  • Seasonal by season display of flowers…self seeding habit
  • Supports neighbourhood plant health with companion plants that host beneficial insects
  • Support community bee hives with multi flora urban honey
  • Beautify our most liveable city, cut flowers for home decoration
  • Easy to remove when utility service need to dig up berm and low cost to resow with a fresh season mix
  • Drought and poor soil condition tolerant wildflower mixes available
  • Organic solution….no need to spray harmful pesticides
  • Enhances biodiversity and links with ecological greening of city through parks and reserves

Insectory plantsto bring back for bees and other pollinators…why ? Bees cannot survive without the help of humans, and we cannot survive without the bee.More than ⅓ of what we eat and ¾ of the diversity relies on bee pollination, and so do billions of dollars in export earnings. Bees all around the globe are being critically threatened by Varroa, pesticides, disease and loss of habitat.

Try a wildflower mix as I am doing this Spring on my letter box berm

Best to plant blue, white and yellow flower to attract pollinators such as bees, wasps, moths, flies.

alyssum, bergamot, calendula , centaurea,china aster, cleome, coriander, coreopsis,corn poppy, cosmos, cynoglossum, dill, aster, forget-me-not, fennel,gaillardia,gilia,goldernrod, lemon balm, linaria,linum, marigold, nemophila,sunflower, parsley, pennyroyal, phacelia, mallow, mixed cornflowers , nettle,papaver, penstemon, queen annes lace, statice, Sweet mignonette, potentilla, virginia stock,wild carrot,

Companion plantsto host beneficial insects and plant health increase the selection of companion plants to include key beneficial insect Attractant plants

cosmos, thistle, dandelion, artichoke, ageratum, marigold, sunflower, poppies, virginia stock, calendula, buckwheat, phacelia, alyssum, cornflower, candytuft, bergamot, heliotrope, tansy, bergamot, zinnia, rudbeckia

Umbelliferus -Carrot family to attract and host beneficial insects……dill, coriander, parsnip, queen annes lace, celery, turnip, anise, fennel, parsley, wild carrot, caraway, angelica, bishops flower , tansy, golden rod, yarrow, ,

Suggested Annual and Perennial Bermaculture herbs and flowers to support plant health and enhance biodiversity.

ANNUAL PERENNIAL

Aster Solidago ‘ Goldern Rod’ Nettle

Cosmos Achillea Sp Cowslip

Cornflower Anise Hyssop Artichoke

Viscaria Gaillardia Mint

Zinnia Bergamot Thyme

Salvia Wild Carrot Sage

Wallflower Coreopsis Lemon Grass

Sunflower Chamomile ( German and Roman )

Sweatpea Chicory Comfrey

Stock Eryngium Yarrow

Dill Verbena Sorrel

Coriander Oregano Cowslip

Poppy Caraway Scented Palagoniums

Marigold Rudbeckia Lemon Balm

Phacelia Soapwort Balm of Gilead Aster

Zinnia Hollyhock Evening primrose

Cleome Echinacea Creeping Rosemary

Salvia Lavender

NasturtiumPhacelia Cleome

Associated G4H Resource ….Plants for Beesavailable on request

View Kings Seed catalogue Field Selection

Auckland Botanic Gardens are planning to trial wildflower mixes for berms and parks

Gardens4Health Richard Main August 22nd 2014 Page 1