Natural fibre mats support Arowhenua Native Nursery’s restoration work

Natural fibre mats support Arowhenua Native Nursery’s restoration work

A long-standing relationship between Advance Landscape Systems and Arowhenua Native Nursery is helping strengthen native restoration work in Canterbury, while showcasing the practical benefits of New Zealand-made natural fibre products.

Advance Landscape Systems has worked alongside Arowhenua Nursery since the early stages of the Jobs for Nature, Kaimahi for Nature project, which began in 2021. Over the past five to six years, the company has supported Arowhenua’s revegetation, restoration and native planting programmes, providing products and expertise to help improve plant survival and establishment.

That relationship took another step forward in 2024 when Advance Landscape Systems’ plant protection specialist, Robert Bruce, introduced Arowhenua Native Nursery to FuturFiber^® Dag Wool and Hemp pot mats. Developed by Advance, using the hemp and wool matting material made by Rubisco^®, Advance began producing FuturFiber pot mats in multiple sizes, including disc and square options to suit commercial pots. Being made in New Zealand and BioGro certified, they held high appeal for restoration projects seeking practical, sustainable and natural alternatives.

For both Advance and Arowhenua, the use of natural products aligned strongly with the values of kaitiakitanga, the guardianship, protection and preservation of te taiao, and the Nursery quickly embraced the concept of the natural fibre pot mats. Weed control had been one of its biggest challenges, requiring significant labour and cost through hand weeding. The FuturFiber mats offered a natural, easy-to-install alternative that helped suppress weeds without the need for manual removal or harmful herbicides.

 

 

Arowhenua Native Nursery began by trialling 7cm and 8cm FuturFiber Dag Wool pot mats. After seeing their effectiveness, the nursery expanded its use to include 140mm FuturFiber Hemp pot mats for larger, one-litre pots. The hemp mats were selected for larger plants because of their higher moisture retention and greater longevity.

Comparing the results of plants where FuturFiber pot mats had been used, with those that hadn’t, Arowhenua Nursery Production Manager, Erin Lester, was astounded at the difference.

 “I took these photos a couple of weeks ago to show the difference in plant and the amazing growth we have had from using them,” said Erin, in reference to the pot mats. “Toi Toi and Carex Secta in these photos were both pricked out in the same month and growing beside each other, but there is a huge difference in plant growth.”

 

 

 

Both the dag wool and hemp pot mats provide a range of practical advantages for nursery production. They help suppress weeds, reduce labour requirements, retain moisture, support air circulation and allow water and fertiliser penetration. As the natural fibre mats biodegrade, they also release nutrients gradually into the growing medium, supporting stronger plant growth at a critical early stage.

The result is significantly larger, more strongly established plants, alongside meaningful savings in labour time and weed control costs.

“The FuturFiber Dag Wool pot mats are designed to remain damp for hours, helping reduce evaporation and planting stress,” explains Greg Suckling, Natural Fiber Geotextile Specialist for Advance Landscape Systems. “They moderate soil temperature, particularly in cooler conditions, and they also release naturally occurring nutrients, including nitrogen, sulphur, sodium, potassium and magnesium, into the soil over time.”

 

Hemp pot mats offer strong water-holding capability while remaining porous, meaning they do not impede air movement or the movement of water and fertiliser through the pot. This makes them well suited to larger nursery plants where moisture retention and mat longevity are especially important.

The relationship with Arowhenua and Advance Landscape Systems also reflects a wider regional story. Rubisco, formerly known as New Zealand Natural Fibres, is leading the way in high-performance natural fibre systems made from hemp and wool, and supplies the geotextile matting used in the FuturFiber product range. These wool and hemp geotextiles are used for erosion control, weed suppression, roadside stabilisation, tree bases, revegetation, and early-stage plant growth applications.

For Advance Landscape Systems and Arowhenua Native Nursery, the FuturFiber mats show how natural fibre innovation can deliver immediate, practical benefits on the ground: fewer weeds, reduced herbicide reliance, lower labour costs, better moisture retention and stronger native plants ready for restoration work.

If you are interested in learning more about FuturFiber geotextiles, read more here or enquire with our team of geotextile specialists.

FuturFiber^® Made by Rubisco^® is a collaboration between Rubisco and Advance Landscape Systems, bringing high-performance natural fibre geotextiles to the New Zealand market.