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With thousands of local flora, shrubs, grasses, and tree species, we Aussies are truly spoilt for choice when it comes to Australian native garden design!
Embracing Australia’s homegrown botanical beauties won’t just help you achieve a captivating garden landscape but will also help support and preserve Australia’s biodiversity. By planting native species, you’ll attract and support local wildlife, including essential pollinators, which will contribute to a thriving ecosystem.
Looking to create your own native garden but not sure where to start? Don’t worry! In this insightful article, we share six key steps to help you develop a fabulous planting scheme with Australia’s wondrous plants. Keep reading to begin your native gardening journey…
Transform Your Garden
Dreams into Reality!
Step 1: Create a Realistic Budget
Ensuring you create a realistic budget that factors in all your essential expenses will empower you to allocate your money responsibly and stay on track with your spending so you can achieve the garden of your dreams without breaking the bank! Here are some key expenses to consider:
- Plants and Seeds: Determine how many plants and seeds you wish to purchase and allocate your budget accordingly.
- Soil and Amendments: Invest in quality soil, compost, and other necessary amendments to create a nutrient-rich foundation for your plants.
- Landscaping Materials: Evaluate what hardscaping elements you need, such as pathways, fencing, and decor (such as ornamental stones), to enhance your garden’s functionality and overall design.
- Maintenance Care: Assess what maintenance products your plants will need to keep them healthy, such as fertiliser, pesticides, and plant tonic, ensuring a portion of your budget is dedicated to these items.
- Watering System: Different watering systems, such as soaker hoses, sprinklers, irrigation systems, and manual watering solutions, can greatly vary in price, so it’s important to apportion enough money for whichever application you need.
- Professional Services: If you opt for professional help, such as hiring a landscape architect, share a portion of your budget, ensuring it covers their rates.
- Tools and Equipment: Consider the expense of essential gardening tools and equipment, such as lawnmowers, hoses, shovels, pruners, watering cans, and so forth.
- Garden Furniture: Aside from plants and equipment, assess what furniture you wish to purchase for your garden. You can create a wish list of all your desired items to determine an accurate estimate of the total cost.
Step 2: Assess Your Garden Space
Before you plant anything in your garden, you must evaluate the space you have available.
Assessing major factors that will influence your native garden layout, including available square footage, sunlight exposure, soil type, existing vegetation, moisture, wind exposure, and ground slope, will help you strategically plan and implement an optimal design that aligns with your vision.
Step 3: Choose an Aesthetic for Your Australian Native Garden Design
By establishing an aesthetic, you can aim toward a certain garden design that cohesively combines your stylistic preferences. Whether you envision a minimal, contemporary oasis, an eclectic, bold, maximalist landscape, or a refreshing and soothing coastal garden, your chosen aesthetic will guide you during every stage of creating your dream native garden.
Consider key elements, such as colour schemes, hardscape features (such as pathways and fencing), textures, and shapes when defining an aesthetic. These factors will contribute to a harmonious and dynamic design. We highly recommend creating a mood board to help you develop an aesthetic vision.
Step 4: Choose Your Australian Native Plants
From hardy, drought-tolerant plants to vibrant, exotic plants, Australia’s diverse climate brings forth a multitude of native species that will thrive in your garden.
When choosing native plants, consider specific criteria, such as your region’s climate and water availability, your desired garden aesthetic, your level of gardening experience, and how much you’re willing to commit to maintenance.
By defining these areas, you can effectively tailor your plant search. It ensures you opt for varieties that will thrive in your area’s environment and align with your preferences and needs.
10 Awesome Native Plants For Your Australian Native Garden Design
In need of some inspiration? Here are our top 10 awesome Australian natives available to order at the Local Botanist:
#1 Banksia integrifolia ‘Coastal banksia’:
This rapid-growing evergreen tree blooms otherworldly flowers that grow in cylindrical formations.
Beyond the coastal banksia’s intriguing appearance, this charming tree serves as a vital food source to wildlife, including nectar-eating birds and sugar gliders – planting them will foster a harmonious coexistence between your garden and local wildlife!
#2 Xanthorrhoea ‘Grass trees’:
These remarkably resilient, low-maintenance trees are no stranger to Australia’s harsh environment.
They’re drought-tolerant, thrive in poor soil conditions, and even respond to bushfires by sprouting vibrant foliage! Grass trees display a characterful arrangement of grassy foliage, creating an appearance that embodies the Aussie bush.
#3 Doryanthes palmeri ‘Giant spear lily’:
If you want to adorn your garden with a show-stopping centrepiece, look no further than the theatrical giant spear lily! This marvellous plant is distinguished by large, spiky leaves and towering, crimson flowers that bloom throughout the spring.
#4 Macrozamia communis ‘Burrawang palm’:
The burrawang palm is characterised by a crown of long, slender, green leaves. This botanical giant can reach a staggering 2-3 metres in height. This makes it ideal for creating a dynamic focal point in your outdoor oasis.
Not only is this plant an Aussie staple, but it’s also a prehistoric species! By planting this spectacular palm, you’ll add a touch of ancient allure and timeless charm to your garden.
#5 Eucalyptus haemastoma ‘Scribbly gum’:
The scribbly gum boasts distinctive, smooth bark that develops fascinating ‘scribble’ patterns left by insect larvae. It also showcases elegantly hanging leaves that bloom delicate, fluffy, white flowers in spring, transforming your garden into a whimsical wonderland!
#6 Pandanus tectorius ‘Screw pine’:
The screw pine is a palm-like fruiting tree that exudes an exotic, paradise ambience. Not only does this specimen boast a coastal aesthetic, but its also well-suited to coastal environments due to its drought and salt tolerance – making it a superb choice for seaside gardens!
#7 Anigozanthos ‘Kangaroo Paw’:
Kangaroo paws are Australia’s most iconic native flowering plants! This entrancing and delightfully quirky species blooms fuzzy, tubular, vibrant red flowers that resemble a kangaroo’s paw.
They serve as exceptional ornamental focal points while requiring minimal care. They are perfect for all gardeners seeking to achieve a playful and characterful garden!
#8 Isolepis nodosa ‘Knobby club rush’:
The knobby club rush is a compact, coastal species that stands out with its dense tufts of cylindrical stems and distinctive ‘knobby’ buds, which create an eye-catching texture.
Ideal gardens with high moisture, this plant thrives in wet soil and partial shade. Its captivating architectural form and superb adaptability make it a standout choice for landscaping projects, particularly for anyone seeking a touch of modern elegance.
#9 Patersonia occidentalis ‘Purple flag’:
With long, slender leaves that gracefully cascade and dainty lilac blooms, the purple flag will delicately adorn your garden. It will provide a dreamy, ethereal allure – perfect for anyone seeking to create a fairytale-inspired garden escape!
#10 Poa labillardieri ‘Tussock grass’:
When it comes to landscaping, tussock grass is one of Australia’s most preferred native grasses that’s excellent for dense planting. Its fine-textured, tufted form creates an elegant, verdant carpet that gracefully sways in the wind.
While full of character, this species is exceptionally stylistically versatile and will harmoniously complement any garden aesthetic. Tussock grass is also remarkably easy to care for once established, making it a hassle-free botanical adornment.
Step 5: Create a Garden Layout
This stage involves creating a detailed layout that strategically places each desired element of your garden. For instance, defining areas with native shrubs or arranging a centrepiece of flowering plants. It’s the pivotal step that will bring your envisioned landscape to life, ensuring it effortlessly blends functionality with visual appeal.
When developing your garden layout, ensure you factor in major aspects to foster harmonious coexistence. This includes sunlight exposure, wind patterns, and plant growth habits. We also recommend you designate areas for social gathering and relaxation. Create pathways for navigation, and pockets of greenery for botanical balance.
Step 6: Develop a Garden Maintenance Plan
Once your garden landscape has been established, you’ll need to maintain it with rigorous care. Thankfully, most Australian plant species thrive more or less independently as they’re adapted to local environments. However, certain care needs, such as fertilising, pruning, watering, and weeding, must be upheld to ensure your garden stays thriving.
To make maintenance easier, we recommend setting a regular reminder for assessing plant health and checking soil conditions. Creating a seasonal maintenance schedule, such as a watering timetable, is another effective practice. It will help you tailor maintenance tasks to each season so your plants flourish year round!
FAQs on Australian Native Garden Design:
Here are some readily answered frequently asked questions about achieving a native Australian garden design:
To plan an Australian native garden, it’s essential to create a realistic budget, research and choose native plants with your desired aesthetic in mind, assess your available garden space, and create a layout design.
These key steps will guide you throughout your garden design journey, enabling you to achieve the perfect Australian native garden that aligns with your needs and preferences!
Popular features of an Australian native garden include a spacious grass area with native grasses, local flora (such as kangaroo paw), edging/border plants (such as native shrubs), drought-tolerant species (like native cacti and succulents), and furniture made from natural materials to add to the organic and botanical landscape aesthetic.
Although these are common features of Australian native gardens, they aren’t necessarily essential; you can create a native gardenscape tailored to your unique preferences and needs.
