Gardening with Indigenous Plants Moreland City Council in Moreland Moreland City Council and its open space Contents About this booklet 1 Planning and planting the garden 2 Garden Designs 4 Plant Descriptions Grasses and other tussock plants 8 Small plants 11 Groundcovers 17 Climbers 19 Small and medium shrubs 20 Large shrubs 25 Moreland City Council recognises the years. This booklet, promoting the use Small and medium trees 28 importance of open space in the of indigenous plants in residents’ Index 32 municipality for its residents, and for the gardens, is part of Moreland City Contacts and further information inside back cover plants and animals that inhabit the area Council’s program to create sustainable and travel along the habitat corridors landscapes across the municipality’s About this booklet that criss-cross the region. Residents’ gardens, streets and parks. This booklet outlines how and why Indigenous plants can be used to gardens can significantly contribute to Merri Creek Management Committee the municipality’s open space, and can indigenous (local native) plants can be create formal and informal settings in (MCMC) works to restore Merri Creek, used in home gardens. Indigenous plants gardens. Indigenous plants can be provide ‘breathing space’ for the its parklands and open space to a residents, as well as habitat for the have evolved and adapted to our climate grown in pots and tubs, and some can healthy living stream and bushland and soils. They are both home and food be clipped to form hedges. Lawns of plants, birds and insects that once environment. The municipalities of naturally occurred in the area. for a variety of insects, birds and animals. native grass can be created by planting Darebin, Hume, Mitchell, Moreland, These can be attracted to your garden by densely with Weeping Grass and Moreland City Council has a Whittlesea and Yarra and Friends of planting indigenous plants. Wallaby Grasses (these species are not commitment to sustainability. In Merri Creek are members of MCMC, described in this booklet; talk to an landscape terms this translates as providing funding and support for its Many indigenous plants have colourful wildflowers which can add interest to indigenous plant nursery or see the sustainable landscapes which: operations. Project grants are received references listed at the end of this from State and Federal Government the garden. Most of the plants listed in • are less dependent on resources, this booklet are tolerant of dry summers booklet). Native grass lawns can be • have aesthetic strengths, grant schemes as well as other sources. mown or can be left unmown MCMC employs specialist staff and drought, and will only require • offer broad environmental benefits infrequent watering (once or twice a depending on the style of your garden such as habitat for fauna. dedicated to improving and promoting and the uses of the lawn area. the creek. week during summer) Many will flourish Gardens planted with indigenous (local in the heavy clay soils which are A number of garden design plans are native) plants contribute to fulfilling Gardening with Indigenous Plants characteristic of the northern suburbs of included in this booklet, as well as these principles. Residents’ gardens in Moreland was produced for Melbourne, and across the Western details of almost fifty different landscaped in this manner also celebrate Moreland City Council by Merri Creek Plains of Victoria, with little soil indigenous plants considered well suited the character of the local environment, Management Committee, with plant treatment or addition of chemicals or to home gardens. At the end of this help conserve the plants of the area and illustrations by Brian Bainbridge and fertilisers necessary (although some booklet is a list of indigenous nurseries assist us to connect with the cultural George Stolfo. plants benefit from the addition of small which sell all the plants listed, as well as history of the land; Wurundjeri (local amounts of native plant fertiliser – see organisations and books which can Aboriginal clan) land for thousands of Revised and reprinted 2005. Plant Descriptions later in this booklet). provide more information. 1 Planning and planting the garden Planning and planting the garden The City of Moreland lies on the western high density in each square metre of pot-bound, don’t tease the roots of the plant Pruning and weeding basalt plains of Victoria. Although Moreland planting; see description for each plant later before planting. Place the plant carefully in Pruning, which mimics the grazing of has a range of different soil types, the in the book for more detail). Provide the hole, and crumble the soil around the wallabies and kangaroos, will encourage predominant one is derived from volcanic adequate space for any shrubs or trees. plant, firming the soil as you go. Water the denser growth in some plants, will prevent lava flows thousands of years ago. These soils Many home gardens are too small to plant using 1/3 of a bucket of water. legginess and will promote flowering and are usually heavy, poorly draining black clay accommodate large trees (check location of new growth. Specific notes for each plant soils that may become waterlogged in winter, power lines and plumbing before planting). MULCHING are listed in the plant descriptions in the and dry and crack in summer. Outcrops of Mulch retains moisture in the soil reducing following pages. older sedimentary yellow clays are also PREPARATION the need to water, encourages beneficial soil common in some areas. Control of weeds is a key element in animals such as worms, and suppresses The common weeds of all home gardens will successful gardening. It is easier to remove The indigenous (local native) plants listed in weeds. Mulch can be attractive and increase also invade the indigenous home garden, weeds before rather than after planting. this booklet have evolved to grow and the habitat values in the garden. and regular weeding is necessary. Mulch Remove weeds by hand-weeding, flourish in the clay soils and so soil treatment There are different types of mulch layers minimise weed invasion. Dense smothering with mulch (see below), or by is usually unnecessary. plantings of groundcovers and small plants careful, targeted, minimal application of available; fine pine mulch and eucamulch are very popular. These mulches should be may also out-compete most weeds. However PLANNING herbicides. Do not dig over the soil before laid to form a 10 cm thick layer. For added some weeding will always be necessary. When establishing a new garden or planting (this can encourage more weeds), weed suppression, a layer of newspaper Formal gardens and gardens with bare earth modifying an existing garden it is important but make sure the soil is moist. at least ten pages thick can be laid under require more intensive maintenance to to first create a plan to guide planting and PLANTING the mulch. maintain the sharp lines, boundaries and other works. You will need to consider: The best time to plant is in autumn or Jutemat (a commercially available product) block elements of the original design. Such • sunny / shady patches, • wet / dry areas, spring when the soil is moist and the can be used, but may be more difficult to gardens need more regular pruning, and if • soil condition, • high use areas, weather is not too hot. You can plant in lay in a small garden area. Do not use carpet there is no mulch, require more regular • informal paths, • garden uses winter but there will not be much growth underlay based on nylon netting. watering, and more intensive weeding. (e.g. entertainment, play, quiet due to cold weather. Avoid planting during enjoyment, habitat). summer as the plants become heat- and ONGOING CARE AND Replacement planting Collect information about your garden at water-stressed. Purchase healthy plants from MAINTENANCE and mulching different times of the day and different a nursery that sells indigenous plants of local Using indigenous plants may reduce As the garden establishes, some plants will seasons of the year. Use this information to provenance (see inside back cover of this maintenance but will not dispense with flourish, some may not do so well, perhaps select the right plants for these areas. booklet). Indigenous plants are often sold as it altogether. “tubestock” (the plants are grown in small because they have been planted in the Decide on a style for your garden, and select square deep pots). The plants are relatively Watering and fertilising wrong place. If the successes and failures plants that will be suited to your garden’s are noted, this knowledge can be used to cheap, and although small when planted, Generally, an indigenous home garden will spaces. Some design examples are included plan replacement planting. Ongoing develop excellent root systems and are more require infrequent watering and application on the following pages. Work out the planting is also necessary to replace any of number of plants you will need. Use plant tolerant of drought. of fertilisers. After the initial watering the shorter lived plants (such as Sticky size at maturity as a guide to avoid Dig a hole slightly larger than the pot, gently associated with planting, gardens may Everlasting and Kangaroo Apple). overcrowding your garden. Grasses and remove the plant from the pot (by holding require watering once or twice a week small plants can be planted densely, the pot upside down and tapping it, avoid during summer and drought periods. Some Top up the mulch layer every two to five reducing weed invasion (up to 10 plants for pulling the plant out by the stem). Because plants may respond to a light application of years depending on the type of garden and medium density and up to 20 plants for plants grown in tubes do not usually become native plant fertilisers.