Plant shrubs in clusters

Overall effectiveness category Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)
Number of studies: 1
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How is the evidence assessed?

Effectiveness

0%
Certainty

15%
Harms

1%

Calculating overall effectiveness category

Background information and definitions

Planting shrubs in clusters may result in an alteration of microclimatic conditions which favour their survival and growth.

Study locations

Key messages

A randomized, controlled study in South Africa found that when shrubs were planted in clumps more of them died than when they were planted alone.

About key messages

Key messages provide a descriptive index to studies we have found that test this intervention.

Studies are not directly comparable or of equal value. When making decisions based on this evidence, you should consider factors such as study size, study design, reported metrics and relevance of the study to your situation, rather than simply counting the number of studies that support a particular interpretation.

Supporting evidence from individual studies

A randomized, controlled study in 2000–2001 in a formerly mined karoo shrubland in Cape Province, South Africa (Blignaut & Milton 2005) found that planting shrub species in clumps led to an increase in their mortality. After one year the percentage of shrubs planted in clumps that died (39%) was higher than the percentage of shrubs planted on their own that died (25%). In 2000 adult shrubs of three species (Aridaria noctiflora, Drosanthemum deciduum, and Psilocaulon dinteri) were removed from a shrubland and translocated to a formerly mined area. Ninety-six clumps each consisting of three shrubs of different species were planted with one clump per 25 m² plot, while 288 shrubs of the three species used were planted alone in each plot. Survival of plants was recorded in 2001.
Study and other actions tested
Referenced paper
Blignaut A. & Milton S. J. (2005) Effects of multispecies clumping on survival of three succulent plant species translocated onto mine spoil in the Succulent Karoo Desert, South Africa. Restoration Ecology, 13, 15-19.

Please cite as:

Martin, P.A., Rocha, R., Smith, R.K. & Sutherland, W.J. (2020) Shrubland and Heathland Conservation. Pages 483-525 in: W.J. Sutherland, L.V. Dicks, S.O. Petrovan & R.K. Smith (eds) What Works in Conservation 2020. Open Book Publishers, Cambridge, UK.

Where has this evidence come from?

List of journals searched by synopsis

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This Action forms part of the Action Synopsis:

Shrubland and Heathland Conservation

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Plant shrubs in clusters Action Link	Unknown effectiveness (limited evidence)	1	Synopsis Link