Planting guide for native plants

Published on 13 July 2022

woman holding native plants

Planting native plants in your garden is a great way to help improve the biodiversity of our area.

See our local native plant list(PDF, 497KB) for ideas on what natives to grow at home. 

Here are some helpful tips for planting native plants at home.

  • Timing: The best time to plant natives is during autumn and winter when the soil is wet and easy to dig. Plants will have time and water to establish their roots before warmer weather.

  • Digging the hole: Dig a hole slightly deeper than the pot the seedling is in. Loosen the soil at the bottom of the hole so the plant roots will have loose soil to grow in.

  • Removing the plant: Cover the top of the pot with your hand, tip the pot upside down and tap a corner of the pot to loosen the seedling and soil. Gently remove the seedling and soil as one by hand.

  • Planting: Carefully place your plant into your dug hole and check the depth. Adjust the soil level as needed. Hold the plant in the desired position and backfill the hole with the removed soil. Crumble larger mounds of soil into the hole with your hands. Gently push down the top of the soil. Form a slightly indented circle around the plant to aid water collection.

  • Watering: Water your plant straight after planting. Fill the circle around your plant with water. Repeat once the water has soaked in. Native plants benefit from weekly to fortnightly watering during their first summer. They should not require watering in future summers.

  • Tree guards: Tree guards can be helpful for protecting your plant against predators and allowing it to establish safely. Install a tree guard in a triangle shape around the plant using bamboo or wooden stakes and a plastic sleeve. Tree guards can be purchased from gardening stores, or search how to recycle household items into tree guards.

  • Mulch: Adding a layer of mulch to your garden around your plants assists with water retention and minimises weed growth. Leave some clear space around the roots of your plants for best results.

Native plants can be purchased from Provenance Indigenous Plants, Sandy Crescent, Salisbury Park. The nursery is open Saturdays, 9am to 4pm and first Wednesday of the month, 9am to 4pm.

 

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