08-04-2005, 11:55 AM
Hello Landscapers,
I just wanted to make a comment regarding trucked-in materials (soil, mulch, etc.). It sounds like a good idea, and it used to be a good idea, but now-a-days you have to be very careful not to bring in materials that are contaminated with organisms or pests, or you will have bigger problems to deal with down the road.
You can very easily bring Coqui frogs (or the eggs of) with you whenever take materials from the transfer stations - especially Kea`au and Hilo. You can also bring a number of other pests that are bad for plants or people such as nematodes, stinging fire ants, and who knows what else.
Lava-scapes are beautiful. Depending on whether you have a`a or pahoehoe, (a`a is easier), all you need to do is make a hole and mulch the hole (with exisitng organic materials or bagged potting soil) to get your plants started. Native plants are very happy on lava and need very little care. It is the exotic, or non-native, or those plants not used to lava that require more soft soil and less rock.
Use native plants as often as possible, and avoid exotic species if you have no soil. Bringing the plants also brings the pests, so you really should check out your plant suppliers, and inspect plants really well before bringing them home. Go to the nursery or store at night - make sure you don't hear loud whistling coqui frogs. If you do hear them, notify the establishment that you won't buy plants there because of the problem, and ask them to be responsible and clean it up.
Good luck,
Kim
I just wanted to make a comment regarding trucked-in materials (soil, mulch, etc.). It sounds like a good idea, and it used to be a good idea, but now-a-days you have to be very careful not to bring in materials that are contaminated with organisms or pests, or you will have bigger problems to deal with down the road.
You can very easily bring Coqui frogs (or the eggs of) with you whenever take materials from the transfer stations - especially Kea`au and Hilo. You can also bring a number of other pests that are bad for plants or people such as nematodes, stinging fire ants, and who knows what else.
Lava-scapes are beautiful. Depending on whether you have a`a or pahoehoe, (a`a is easier), all you need to do is make a hole and mulch the hole (with exisitng organic materials or bagged potting soil) to get your plants started. Native plants are very happy on lava and need very little care. It is the exotic, or non-native, or those plants not used to lava that require more soft soil and less rock.
Use native plants as often as possible, and avoid exotic species if you have no soil. Bringing the plants also brings the pests, so you really should check out your plant suppliers, and inspect plants really well before bringing them home. Go to the nursery or store at night - make sure you don't hear loud whistling coqui frogs. If you do hear them, notify the establishment that you won't buy plants there because of the problem, and ask them to be responsible and clean it up.
Good luck,
Kim