Native Garden and Plant Tips | Manawee Garden Centre

21 Apr Native Gardens

Posted at 15:40h in Landscaping, Native Plants, Shrubs, Uncategorized by Manawee 0 Comments

Planting Native plants can do wonders for supporting local ecology, as well as adding something special to your garden. Consider a native option when you are next planning a new garden and you could be richly rewarded.

Just like with any new garden it is important to know your soil type and conditions to choose the best variety of native to suit the conditions. There are native plants that will thrive in all soil conditions from wet, boggy soils, coastal conditions to inland, drought tolerant options, so don’t assume they are all the same.

Native Plants for Coastal Conditions

Generally speaking, these are sandy, well drained soils, so make sure to add some organic compost. This will help your soil to hold moisture while the garden is establishing.

Pandanus tree native — Pandanus trees are often seen along the beachfront but can also be planted as a feature tree in your garden.

If you are looking for a larger growing tree in these conditions try Banksia Integrifolia, Pandanus or Acronychia. (Read more about feature trees here) For smaller, more compact options try Grevillea, Casuarina Cousin It, Myoporum, Banksia Spinulosa or Westringia will thrive.

In wet or heavy soil types, there are still plenty of options.

Check out Callistemons and Melaleuca, as these flowering plants offer a huge variety of growing size.

Low mounding types such as Callistemon Little John or Melaleuca Claret Top will thrive, as well as the larger growing forms.

Ficinia Nodosa (Knobby Club Rush) native grass garden — Ficinia Nodosa (Knobby Club Rush)

Reeds and rushes are also great and provide habitat for frogs and other native fauna. Ficinia Nodosa (Knobby Club Rush) Lomandra (Mat Rush) and Themeda (Kangaroo Grass) are all tough and hardy options.

Native Plants for Dry Conditions

Plenty of Australian native plant varieties have to survive in harsh conditions, including drought and heat. It is important to remember that while establishing new plants, even native varieties some water and care will be required. Once established these options tend to look after themselves.

Australian Native grass tree Xanthorrhoea — Xanthorrhoea (Grass Tree) Grass trees epitomise the Australian bush: they’re beautiful, ancient, hardy, thrive in nutrient-poor soils and **respond to wildfire** by flowering profusely. They’re iconic plants, recognisable even to budding botanists.

Grevillea Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw) native garden — Grevillea Anigozanthos (Kangaroo Paw)
Read more about Kangaroo Paw

native garden ground cover — Aussie Rambler Carpobrotus (Pig Face) is a native ground cover.
Great for rockeries, mass plantings, a sand dune stabiliser or for any low maintenance gardens in inland and coastal positions

All of these Australian natives should be fertilised using specific Native safe fertilisers to ensure their nutritional requirements are met. If planting in new gardens, consider checking the pH to ensure optimal soil conditions.

And just like any new garden, mulching is key to maintain moisture levels during dry spells. We suggest Ti-Tree or Cypress mulch spread to a thickness of 5-7cm (2-3 inches). Do not pile mulch against the trunk of trees as this can encourage pests and diseases.