Planting for biodiversity in your garden

Planting a variety of species such as a shrubby area, a grassland area or wetland area will improve the biodiversity in your garden. Growing local native plants in your own garden creates a haven for our local wildlife. Local native species are naturally adapted to the soils, rainfall and temperatures. This means they will be hardy and drought tolerant in your garden.

To attract wildlife into your garden you need to provide the natural habitat needed, some tips are:

  • select plants for their seeds, nectar, sap, fruits, leaves and roots
  • provide water in the form of a bird-bath or pond
  • provide protection and shelter by retaining leaf litter and mulch, logs and piles of old bricks
  • plant areas of indigenous species and help to create ‘wildlife corridors’. This allow species to move more freely and improves their chances of survival.

You can find out more about local native plants (also called indigenous plants) to include in your garden on our Native Plants page. There are also several native plant nurseries nearby where you can source indigenous plants, and your local nursery should also be able to assist in plant selecting plants for your garden.

Watch our Gardens for Wildlife webinar below for further information about planting for biodiversity, and visit the Gardens for Wildlife website.

Save water in your garden

Coliban Water have recently created a booklet, Smart Gardens for a Dry Climate full of tips for waterwise gardening in a change climate.

Composting and worm farms

Our Guide to Composting(PDF, 2MB) and Guide to Worm Farming(PDF, 2MB) will provide you with some tips about worm farms and composting.

Already composting?

Consider the Food Organics Garden Organics (FOGO) bin as an extension of the good work you are already doing and a means to take the pressure off your home compost or worm farm. The FOGO bin can take the hard to compost items and things the worms don’t like to eat like citrus, meat, bones, fish, dairy, bread, pasta etc. 

Home Harvest booklet

Learn how to grow your own delicious fresh food with Home Harvest. This educational and inspirational guide was written by Sustainable Gardening Australia and produced by Western Water, in partnership with Macedon Ranges Shire Council and Hume City Council. 

Home Harvest will teach you more about the health benefits of growing your own food, planning your garden, soil health, compost and worm farm care, and dealing with pests and disease naturally.

Gardens for Wildlife

Would you like to attract more local butterflies, birds, reptiles and mammals in your yard? Check out this helpful webinar from our Environment team. 

 

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