That’s what the discovery of long-stem planting is like. It challenges two long-held horticultural principles: 1. Seedling stems should never be planted below the soil surface for risk of fungal and disease attack. 2. Large plants should never be grown in small containers. You risk root bound, stunted growth. Both these guidelines, taught to me at two horticultural colleagues, disregarded, should have left me staggering in a daze. Not the case. The plants survived. In fact, they thrive and reward the grower better than traditional methods do.

It was an old chap by the name of Bill Hicks who discovered long-stem planting. He wasn’t even a gardener, however, was first President of the Society for Growing Australian Plants NSW Region in 1957. His passion was riparian (river bank) revegetation, and the rest is history. The problem today is that few know about his discovery.

Damage to our river systems is a primary issue. The answer is repair and restoration with replanting. In the first instance willow trees were used because they could be planted deeply as hardwood cuttings. They had fast growth and deep planting resisted wash-away flood conditions. However, the willow was a bad choice. That was when Bill developed the long-stem method for local plants like River Red Gum and Casuarina. Dubbo Regional Council has been using the long-stem method for some time.

Good results have also been had with Kurrajong, Wattles, Banksias and Melaleucas. You use a standard 50mm square tube and two types of slow release fertilizer. After a growth period of 10 to 18 months, you plant your long-stem up to three quarters of a metre below ground. That’s it. Survival rates are higher and a variety of sites from saline, river-side, coastal, and rainforest have all been positive.