Grass trees - care tips and cultural knowledge from three Xanthorrhoea experts | Gardening Australia

Josh looks at WA’s ancient grass trees - their cultural role and how one nursery is saving hundreds of these iconic plants from being bulldozed. Subscribe: ab.co/GA-subscribe
First he meets Cultural Educator Andrew Beck, who explains the role of Grass Trees in the Noongar cultural landscape.
The Noongar name for grass trees is Balga, which means and there is a spiritual connection as a guardian of people and place, as well as it playing a practical role; the stalks provide materials for lighting fire, and it exudes a resin that holds objects together.
Many grass trees are now threatened by new developments, so a local nursery has set up a scheme to rescue them.
Owner Justin Leeder salvages grass trees from development sites, and sells them on to new gardens and parks. The trees are held on site for 12 months to make sure they have survived being dug up and have reestablished new roots.
They have between 7-7,500 at any one time. Some weight 250 kg to 1tonne, but using cranes they can be installed nearly anywhere. One large one measuring 3.5m high is probably 350 years old, as they grow about 1cm a year.
Maintenance:
Tom Leeder says grass trees don’t need too much water - about 30-60L per week for the first two summers and then they should be OK.
They don’t need much nutrients - just a general native-compatible fertiliser every 6-12 months.
The only disease they are really susceptible to is scale, and this can be treated with eco oil.
To encourage flowering, some people say the trees should be burnt, but Tom say the main aim is to reduce the thatch load of dry grass, which can be done with a hedge trimmer; follow the contours of the trunk and avoid cutting into the trunk itself where the new grass shoots will appear.
Only source grass trees from licensed suppliers.
Featured plants:
WA Grass tree (Xanthorrhoea preissii)
See the latest content from Gardening Australia as it goes live by hitting subscribe: ab.co/GA-subscribe
Watch Gardening Australia on ABC iview: iview.abc.net.au/programs/gard...
About Gardening Australia:
Gardening Australia is an ABC TV program providing gardening know-how and inspiration. Presented by Australia's leading horticultural experts, Gardening Australia is a valuable resource to all gardeners through the television program, the magazine, books, DVDs and extensive online content.
Connect with other Gardening Australia fans:
Like Gardening Australia on Facebook: / gardeningaustralia
Follow Gardening Australia on Instagram: / gardeningaustralia
Visit the Gardening Australia website: www.abc.net.au/gardening
This is an official Australian Broadcasting Corporation TH-cam channel.
********
Contributions may be removed if they violate ABC's Online Conditions of Use www.abc.net.au/conditions.htm (Section 3).

[@catey62]

Of all Australian native I have to say the3 Grass tree is close to being my all time favourite. love them.

[@planterbanter]

They are a very special tree indeed. Hope we can continue to preserve them

[@freeman10000]

Thanks for the video. I guess I am going to have to roll up my sleeves and prume my shabby but beautiful grass tree.

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

Love Andrew Beck. (And his t-shirt). The information he provided about the Xanthorrhoea ... really interesting.

[@matthewfarrell317]

So you love racists, got it.

[@oiavh]

@@matthewfarrell317 Just curious. Since when is that statement racist?

[@BadarTVTrends]

thank you always present the best videos

[@jamshidnikkerdar2074]

Great 👍

[@tonysullivan1603]

Hey I have a question. I have a very vibrant Grass Tree. But, this year we have 1 straight stalk and 2 severally bent ones. What makes the sales bend like that and is there something I can do about it.

[@julianagarciagalofre7156]

Love your chanel! Always diverse, intresting, useful...congrats!

[@justsayin899]

Diversity is our weakness

[@gizelacooke6184]

I want so I can call it grug junior.

[@yuapanda]

Must...attach...googly-eyes!

[@yabbadabbadoo8225]

1 cm growth per year? The Balga must be the slowest growing tree in the world

[@justsayin899]

We call them "Black Boys".

[@justsayin899]

Not sure his political t-shirt is appropriate for the ABC.

[@markdrenan8481]

E

[@CitizenAyellowblue]

Is this your best response? Get a life. He’s not an employee or a presenter. He’s being interviewed. Are you such a snowflake that you need protection from the opinions of others? Don’t watch if it scares you- leave the adults to become more informed. By the way, your profile reveals your white nationalist sympathies.

[@justsayin899]

@@CitizenAyellowblue White Supreme Pizza

[@CaffHCloudlow]

Cultural identity. Why are you sore about it?

[@Sean-me4fv]

I agree. Australia belongs to all Australians, including migrants, not just those who happened to have aboriginal people in their family tree.