GroNATIVE app

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Gronative app logo

The release of the new GroNATIVE app was launched at the Gold Coasts Griffith University yesterday.

GroNATIVE is a free app designed by Natura Pacific and Griffith University, with funding from the Qld State Government, to help home gardeners and designers to select native plants that naturally occur in their local suburb.

The app uses a postcode based search function to screen local plant candidates and then apply a variety of criteria filters to shortlist a final planting palette.

The first version focuses on over 400 plants native to the South East Queensland bioregion that spans the coastal ranges between Gladstone and the New South Wales border at Coolangatta and inland to Toowoomba.

GroNATIVE promotes the responsible use of native plants in order to restore localised biodiversity, but also helps build the scaffolding of a customised whole garden theme. Users can select and screen plants based on flower colour, growth form, growing conditions and particular wildlife attractants.

Budding gardeners can select from up 16 different garden designs including Kids Gardens, native Cottage Garden, Birds and Butterflies and even Formal Tuscan.

GroNATIVE brings nature conservation to a new local level – showing that native plants can offer an equivalent diversity and attractiveness as many exotics and cultivars in the average home garden.

For larger landholders, (or adventurous urban dwellers) there is an encouragement to recognise and introduce locally threatened flora species and also to plant key wildlife attractant species for the preservation of bees, frogs and tree top mammals.

The app is a great education tool for schools, and a call to action for community groups, innovative body corporates and acre

age landowners who previously would not have known where to start.

A select number of native nurseries in South East Queensland also feature as commercial stockists for the species selected.

 

To download the app simply go to the Apple App Store or Google Play and type GroNATIVE in the search-bar, or alternatively…

GroNATIVE app

Press Release for new GroNATIVE app

Gro Native app to transform Gold Coast gardens with native plants

Vegetation Barriers for Mosquito and Midge control

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Vegetation Barriers for Mosquito and Midge control

The summer months are peak season for mosquito and midge breeding activity in SE Queensland. New developments, parks and construction projects near mangrove and inter-tidal zones including estuaries and canals are prime habitat, with increased activity during wet weather and tidal influences.

Mosquito and midge cause significant nuisance, affecting lifestyle and indirect economic impacts. More significant are mosquito vectors for Ross River virus.

While Councils invest heavily in regulated control programs, there are also further integrated vegetation design options available to help increase the treatments.

The idea of an interception barrier is to’ intercept’ the midges on their flight path from their breeding sites to residential areas. Low growing and densely planted barriers are shown to be effective at gathering insects. This strategy integrated with barrier treatments such as the application of residual insecticide, would in many cases provide a more effective deterrent.

What might an interception barrier look like?

  • Optimal plant sp will be native and endemic and planted tightly to represent a hedge. Optimal tree height is 2-3m with dense foliage from the ground up to 2m. A secondary combination of ground covers would be a useful barrier. Eg Lomandras and Syzigiums.
  • Ensure that planted barriers are greater than 3m from waterways/ standing water, to ensure that residual insecticide can be applied in accordance with the label.
  • Planted species to avoid are flowering trees, waxy surfaces or spines, because insecticides will be less effective or may cause environmental harm.

 

Lastly, while this will be a functional planting, consider any implications of environmental design such as CPTED, fauna interactions, public access and bio-divesity.