Reducing your mowing regime in grassy areas that contain some indigenous vegetation can also be an effective way of encouraging the natural vegetation of your property to regenerate. In suburban or cleared areas, replanting with quality nursery stock will almost certainly be required to establish indigenous plants on your land. Windbreaks, shelterbelts and wildlife corridors Local indigenous plants are great to use when creating a windbreak, shelterbelt or a wildlife corridor. Windbreaks or shelterbelts can help to improve productivity of farms, reduce wind erosion and improve comfort in the home. A well designed windbreak can reduce wind speed by more than 70 per cent and shelter an area roughly by 20 times the mature height of the trees planted. Many farmers are now dividing crops and pasture with thickets of indigenous vegetation to reduce evaporation rates and attract insectivorous animals. In turn, these animals help to protect crops from insect attack. Many landowners with isolated or small stands of remnant trees on their properties are now restoring understorey vegetation to improve the health of existing trees and to link these areas with local wildlife corridors. For a windbreak to be effective, it should be structured over a wide area with different tiers of vegetation. A gentle upward slope will deflect wind to a higher elevation, while a steep windbreak tends to be less effective. Factsheets on shelterbelt design are available at . Environmental Recover Action Plans. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries also have several factsheets on shelterbelt design. Fire and the environment Fire has been a natural part of Australia’s ecosystems for thousands of years. Indigenous plants have successfully adapted to its presence and some species even rely on fire to stimulate reproduction. The need to plan for fire prevention should always be considered when undertaking planting or landscaping works, especially in areas that are prone to bushfire.
Fertiliser Fertilisers aren’t usually necessary when growing indigenous plants and may encourage weed growth. Too much fertiliser can also cause fast, soft plant growth, leaving plants more vulnerable to insect attack or harsh climatic conditions. Too much phosphorous in particular, can kill many indigenous plants. The addition of compost or other organic matter is a much better option for promoting healthy growth. If you do choose to fertilise, mix a small amount of slow-release, low phosphate fertiliser with the soil and backfill into the hole. Further fertilising is not usually necessary. Mulching tips: Avoid hot, steaming mulch, as this indicates that it is still composting. Check for and remove mulch-borne seedlings to prevent weed invasion. Mulch to about 5-10cm to allow rain penetration, suppress weeds and reduce soil moisture loss. Tips for planning and designing your garden Indigenous plants can be used to create a natural garden, can be grown in pots, arranged formally to enhance a traditional garden, or be used as cut flowers. In fact, there is probably an indigenous plant for every use in your garden. The following list provides examples of how some indigenous plants can be used to landscape your yard. Hedges and Borders Many indigenous plants are responsive to pruning and can therefore be grown to form a hedge: Botancial name Common name Acacia acinacea Gold Dust Wattle Bursaria spinosa Sweet Bursaria Melaleuca ericifolia Swamp Paperbark
Olearia ramulosa Twiggy Daisy-bush Growing conditions Full to semi sun. Responds well to pruning. Features Fast growing, large dense shrub with grey-green leaves. Masses of white or mauve, long-stalked daisy flowers with yellow centres from September to May. Attractive garden plant which grows well in an understorey situation. Pomaderris racemosa Cluster Pomaderris Growing conditions Prefers well-drained soil. Features Slender shrub ideal for planting where space is limited. Similar to Pomaderris aspera but with smaller leaves. Pale yellow flowers from October to November. 2-5m tall and 1-2m wide. Trees Trees provide excellent shade and shelter, and contribute to the maintenance of biodiversity through the provision of wildlife movement corridors and habitat. Acacia dealbata Silver Wattle This fast growing, tall tree is relatively short-lived (approximately 15 years) but is widespread throughout Nillumbik, particularly near streams. This important habitat tree is a host to the Imperial Blue Butterfly when less than 3m high, and is an important food source for possums, sugar gliders and birds. Size and habit 6-30m tall and 5-10m wide. Fast growing open, tall tree. Flowers and foliage