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Ripping and mounding for seedling establishment

[Print fact sheet - pdf 88kb]

Site preparation is important to the survival and growth of trees particularly on the Southern Tablelands due to our dry conditions. Ripping and mounding is one of the site preparation techniques advised for the region.

Ripping is conducted to create a friable soil so that roots of seedlings can easily penetrate. When a seedling is first planted it is the roots that need to be encouraged so that they anchor the seedling and grow deep to access water and nutrients.

Mounding is conducted in conjunction with or following ripping. In effect a raised, friable soil bed is created. This technique improves the benefits of ripping by enhancing water retention. Control of weeds also appears to be better on the mounds than elsewhere, perhaps because weed seeds are effectively
buried beneath the mound.

Both ripping and mounding should be conducted over summer as the soil shatters most effectively when it is dry. If site preparation is conducted when the soil is wet, the effect will be like ‘slicing warm butter’ so the effectiveness of ripping and mounding is greatly reduced. The other advantage of summer site preparation is that the mounds have time to settle with autumn rains removing air pockets prior to planting. Ripping and mounding should be done in a keyline© pattern or on the contour to maximise water availability to the trees. The Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Natural Resources (DIPNR) also provide advice on these techniques.

Before preparing your site, the following must also be considered;

• Check with DIPNR for approval requirements if the area is greater than 30Ha or if native trees or grasses need to be removed;

• Graze the site down or spray to reduce weed growth;

• Locate underground cables or water pipes; and

• Book site preparation equipment well in advance.

Various equipment is available to conduct ripping and mounding on a small scale (1- 5Ha). Small mounders with tractor 3-point linkage attachments are available for hire throughout the region. Some landholders have their own modified tractor attachments.

DIPNR-Goulburn (02 4828 6755) have bulldozer scale ripping and mounding equipment that is available for hire. This equipment is capable of conducting heavy work on a large scale (10-50Ha).

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