By: karen

karen — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 09:51:57 +0000

I agree with what Peter says. Eucalypts have created an environment that they thrive in and take over, becoming a monoculture, they need fire or smoke to regenerate, they don’t improve soil quality, they break easily and fall causing a lot of damage, they stink when they drop leaves into water, stagnating it. Artificial chemical fertilisers act like a bleach, killing microbiology in the soil and when water runs through the soil, the artificial chemicals leach out, they also add to the mess in our water ways. Willows filter nutrients through their root systems, they aren’t responsible for the stagnate water- the mess chemical fertilisers and eucalypts leave in the water is the problem. Having been through the Black Saturday fires I look at eucalypts in a different way and intend to plant trees-I will be planting exotics as well as natives- that are fire retardant or resistent, on my property, that build up soil quality, increase humus and they have a lot of other benefits and allow me to feel safer. They may even help improve the amount of rain we get! The controlled burns that are considered to lessen the risk of bush fires seem to be adding to pollution levels, why aren’t they looking at pulling out the trees that burn so badly (at least burn them in combustion wood fires and have a use at least) and replace them with many different species that are deciduous and beneficial to the environment, native and exotic. In the end, narrowing your view by saying it has to be indigenous and native doesn’t really help when you know there are other choices out there that will do the job a lot better.

Comments on: Are Eucalypts Weeds?

By: karen