Evergreen Landcare has been involved in this large roading project in conjunction with Stringfellows Civil Engineering Contractors which is located on SH 1 at Ohingaiti approx 25km south of Taihape.

The work includes realigning 4.5km of road near the township of Ohingaiti. Our work consisted of large amounts of hydroseeding and straw mulching.

The hydroseeding consisted of large areas of cut and fill batters once completed using our specialist Evergreen batter mix. The road side verges/shoulders were also hydroseeded using our specialist road shoulder mix. There has been a successful strike throughout the project and we feel that we have achieved the desired result for our client.

The straw mulching consisted of covering subsequent areas in hay to reduce the effects of sediment run-off in order to acheive environmental compliance throughout the project. Areas that were covered in hay were usually grassed or hydroseeded beforehand and then the hay was usually tacked in place using a specialist tackifier to hold the hay as the wind funneled down through the huge cut batters.

Bulldozed ridgelines were exposed on this steep hill country and we had to stabilise the ground to prevent further erosion.

A helicopter was the only real method of applying the hydroseed mix on this sort of terrain. We needed to think about maximum coverage and designing a mix that would stick to the hillsides.

The expertise of Rotowork and their pilot Craig worked in conjunction with Evergreen Landcare to get a successful outcome. Two large hydroseed units along with a water truck were used so there was little down time for the helicopter. 

A specialist mix design was made up to get the coverage as well as getting enough fertiliser and seed onto the area. It was a successful outcome and some of the product even grew on the concrete posts!!!

Evergreen Landcare has been contracted by Beca Carter Hollings & Ferner Ltd to do the landscaping component of the Masterton Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrade for the Masterton District Council.

The contract involves a landscaping component which Evergreen will complete and an irrigation component which we have employed “Think Water, Hawkes Bay’’ as a subcontractor we carry out these works.

The contract consists of the following:

• Site Preparation which involves spraying to kill all vegetation, which is then followed by cultivation and levelling using specialist equipment.
• Design and installation of a buried drip-line irrigation system to apply treated effluent wastewater to the grassed and planted areas.
• Design and installation of a pump house, pumps and suction pipework, and a filter system sufficient to filter effluent to avoid blockages to the drip-line system.
• A 5 metre wide strip of riparian NZ native landscape planting along the Makoura Stream and Makoura Stream Diversion. There are approximately 24,000 plants to install including mulch mats and plant shelters using a ‘Combie Guard’ system to each individual plant.
• There is also a designated site nursery for replacement planting that has been allocated.
• There is approximately a 3 metre wide grassed strip on each side of the planting strip that has also been completed.
• Lastly there is also a maintenance, management and defects obligation of the landscape planted areas and the irrigation system to carry out as well.

This lawn area had been dirt and moss for over a year. We had to approach it differently to spread new topsoil.

An attempt to put a good lawn in this very smart property had failed and Evergreen Landcare were invited have a look to see if we could establish a lawn which would enhance the view and property.

The area had been sprayed and sprayed to keep all the weeds and poor grasses out till such time as the owner was ready to have a second attempt. On inspection there wasn't one blade of grass but a mass of moss. Good old nature would have stepped in to start and cover the soil however it was obvious the PH would be really low.

We recommended coming in with our specialist landscape harley rake to scarify the top layer and rake off all the dead moss. Once this was removed we could then prepare a good seed bed. 

We hydroseeded the area with extra imported wood fibre, high analysis fertiliser and added lime flour in the mix to bring the ph levels up.

A cut batter at the base of a steep hillside on State Highway 1 west of Tirau had been collapsing into the road for a number of years. The substrate was ancient alluvial silts associated with the Waikato River.

This material was very soft and prone to wind erosion and slumping. The steep slope above the cut batter meant that benching was not an option.

The design called for hydroseeding followed by the application of 450 gram per square metre (gsm) coir (coconut fibre) matting.  This was held in place using 20mm galvanized wire ground staples.  The coir matting protected the soil surface from wind and rain impact until grass vegetation had become established.

The slope was then covered with high density polyethylene (HDPE) bi-axial (30 kilo-newton) geogrid anchored to the slope with 650mm long steel pins at one metre centres. The bi-axial geogrid provided the structural strength, ensuring that the surface layer of vegetation root mass will not shear off in the future.

We also not only fenced along the top with a conventional farm fence but added a single wire electric fence above the cut so cattle wouldn't damage and start erosion.

Challenging at times with SH1 traffic and the steepness of the slope but with correct procedures and the use of absailing along with a cherry picker the job was a success. 

Evergreen Landcare were sub-contracted by Fulton Hogan on the East Taupo Arterial Project from the initial stages of earthworks.

During this time we provided straw mulching, hydroseeding and grassing services as well as final formation, grooming, turf establishment and mowing on roadside swale drains.

The low fertility and easily erodible pumice soils on which the East Taupo Arterial is built, coupled with the proximity of Lake Taupo’s clear waters created unique challenges.  While Evergreen’s standard hydroseeding product was used in some areas, the large cuts and fill batters of raw pumice called for use of our more technical hydroseed mulches. 

Hydrosoil® was used to establish grasses on areas such as the vertical abutments of the TH2 Gully culvert.  It acts as an artificial top-soil, containing grass seed and higher levels of course organic material along with mycorrhizal fungi to promote grass growth and kick-start the natural soil-building processes. On site we applied Hydrosoil® from a hanging frame held up by an excavator onto a vertical terramesh wall.

Bioblanket® is a bonded fibre matrix that provides protection to vulnerable soil surfaces from the effects of water, wind and frost until grasses can become established. Bioblanket® was used to establish a dense grass sward in the 30 kilometres of swale drain.

Siltstop® is a filtration tube product that can be used for temporary or long term control of water runoff and sediment.  Due to its portability Siltstop® was used extensively on the Eastern Taupo Arterial to protect germinating seed beds in the roadside swale drains from autumn rain storms.

Due to the large areas of soil that were exposed at one time, the application of straw mulch was critical in order to minimize water-borne sediment movement and comply with environmental consents.  Evergreen used tractor-mounted straw blowers to apply a layer of hay over high risk areas.

The Canterbury Regional Council have raised and altered large areas of stopbanks near the Waimakariri River to better safeguard surrounding areas.

MBD Contracting engaged Evergreen Landcare to stabilise and vegetate the entire length of the new works. The application of hydroseed, then straw mulch followed by "tacking" the straw in place was chosen as best practice.

Given the time of year (July) the straw mulch will provide not only surface protection but also aid in out of season germination. The straw acts as a thermal blanket aiding the germination process. The straw is held in place by "tacking" to prevent wind blow.

This same process is really beneficial in dry situations as the straw provides moisture retention.

This large sand cut on the Queenstown Cycle Trail was severely eroding and with the Shotover River below Evergreen Landcare came up with a solution.

With sandy material even the light winds would erode this embankment. A few options were looked at but the sheer cost was prohibitive. Evergreen Landcare came up with a solution to firstly stabilise the slope with a biodegradable mesh then apply our Hydrosoil® product with a specially selected seed mix. Over the top of this we straw mulched and tacked the straw in place.

The straw provided not only extra surface protection but provided much needed moisture retention.

Evergreen Landcare has been contracted by Heb Structures and Heb Landscaping to carry out the landscaping works as a result of the SH 1 Atiamuri Bridge Replacement project.

There is a large sidling fill batter on the northern side of the bridge and Evergreen Landcare has installed a large quantity of geo-web supplied by Maccaferri. The geo-web was then filled with compost and then hydroseeded using a low growing mix with native seeds added.

The batter was then to be planted once the slope had been stabilised and had a good vegetation cover.  

Hydrosoil® was applied on the low fertility pumice batters near the bridge itself whereas standard hydroseed was applied along the large batters that had some soil on. 

Straw Mulchng was used for sediment control and out of season germination especially to keep the frost off the young germinating grasses.  

Evergreen Landcare partnered with Emily McEwan, of Outright Landscape Design, Mosgiel for the Ellerslie Flower Show.

Emily designed, and Evergreen Landcare lead by Gavin did the Landscaping and construction for our “Outside the Box” display. The construction took over two weeks and many, many hours prior planning.

Winning Gold in the large display was a great achievement and something we are all extremely proud of given the Landscaping detail involved.