Revegetation is the term used when planting New Zealand native plants to recreate a natural bush environment where no bush existed before.
Some of the reasons for doing this are -

Conservation
Erosion control
Preservation of bush remnants
Encouraging native birds
Weed control on difficult sites
Preventing fertiliser run offs into streams

Site Selection

 Use naturally defined areas such as -

Gullies
Corners
Steep faces
Stream edges
Existing bush remnants

Choose the right species for the area.

Pioneer nurse species are hardy species that should be planted first to establish a good canopy cover that restricts weed growth and promotes natural regeneration.
Identify the nurse species or colonising species for the area.
To help with this, take a look at existing natural sites on similar slopes or habitats.

Check out our list of primary colonising plants

Work out a weed and pest control plan

Weeds are a major treat when planting natives and may affect the scale and timing of the project.
Clear weeds such as gorse and blackberry.
Spot spray where plants are to go
Mulch around each plant after planting to reduce weed competition
Sometimes it is beneficial to over-plant primary colonising  plants to achieve rapid cover and suppress weeds.

Source plant stocks well in advance and determine costs and timetables for supply.

Detail the quanitities and grade of plants required and when
Autumn is the best time for revegetation planting, as this enables the plant to establish its roots before the following summer.

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Use Ecosourced Plants

Ecosourcing is using native plants grown from locally grown seeds. Ecosourced plants help to preserve the ecological distinctiveness of an area, and eco-sourced plants are better able to survive in the local conditions.

Plant Spacings

For revegetation planting allow spacings of :

3-10 metres for large trees, e.g. puriri, pohutukawa, kahikatea
1-2 metres for small trees, e.g. mahoe, mapou and cabbage tree
1 metre for shrubs, e.g. karamu and manuka, and large tussock and flax
1 metre for groundcovers
0.5 metres for smaller growing tussocks, ground ferns, rushes and sedges

Help for your revegetation project can be obtained from :

The Native Plant Centre Ltd
Royal Forest and Bird Protection Society
Regional Councils and Catchment Boards
Queen Elizabeth II National Trust, PO Box 3341 Wellington