A habitat garden is designed to mimic the natural landscape by providing food and shelter for local wildlife. Urban expansion continues to reduce habitats available to native plants and animals. A habitat garden can attract many of these birds and animals back into our gardens, providing safe spaces for them to feed and live.
Why create a habitat garden? Reverse the decline. Worldwide, natural habitats continue to be lost to human settlement. Help reverse the decline by choosing to garden with local native species. Save threatened species. Many of our native plants are threatened due to land clearance. Save water. Native plants use less water than most exotic species. Hobart is the second-driest capital city in Australia. It’s rewarding. Visits from birds, bandicoots, butterflies and more ... what a treat! It’s good for the health of the environment – and it’s good for us!
How to create a habitat garden Layer your garden. Create homes for a variety of animals and insects. Leaf litter, groundcovers, shrubs and trees are all important layers for different animals. Use local plant species. This helps restore native vegetation and provide natural food and shelter for wildlife. You can create habitats with non-local natives, however be aware that some plant species become bushland invaders. Provide year-round food and shelter. Select plants to provide safe accommodation and dining opportunities for a variety of wildlife throughout the year. Start small. Think big. Habitat gardening can be as small or as big as you like, from a simple frog pond to an entire bushland garden. Start Habitat Gardening today!
Habitat hints for attracting wildlife Birds are easy to attract to
your garden. To attract a variety, choose plant species to provide year-round food and shelter on various levels (groundcovers, shrubs and trees). Plant shrubs in groups to form thickets for safe nesting sites for small birds. Build a nesting box and install it in a tree. Provide a birdbath near a flowering shrub or tree and keep it filled with fresh water. Keep a record of the birds that visit your garden and notice how the addition of extra habitats and safe spaces encourages more species.
Frogs need
ponds with rocks and aquatic plants to hide amongst. They eat insects, so plant insect-attracting native plants around your pond. Frogs are also good for controlling insect pests in your vegetable garden. Common frog species in southern Tasmania’s suburban areas include brown tree frog, common froglet and Tasmanian froglet. It is important that you follow the correct hygiene procedures to avoid spreading chytrid – a frog fungus devastating our frog populations.
Mammals living
in southern Tasmania include brushtail, ringtail and pygmy possums, eastern-barred and southern brown bandicoots, Tasmanian bettongs, long-nosed potoroos, eastern quolls, echidnas, Tasmanian pademelons and Bennetts wallabies. Bandicoots and possums are common visitors to suburban gardens near bushland areas. Possums use trees for shelter and food. Eastern-barred bandicoots need native grasses and dense shrubs for safe daytime cover. At night they search for soil invertebrates in lawns and gardens, leaving small conical-shaped holes in the ground. Look for evidence of mammal activity (droppings and scratchings).
Reptiles need safe
basking places (stones and logs) amongst the nearby shelter of ground covers and leaf litter. Common suburban reptile species include the metallic skink and blue-tongue lizard, both of which feed on bugs and beetles. Blue-tongue lizards also help control snails and slugs in your garden.
feed p Butterflies on nectar-producing plants, while butterfly larvae often feed on grass stems. Species that occur in southern Tasmanian suburban gardens include bright-eyed brown, Hobart brown, common brown and Australian painted lady.
Insects provide food for many birds and small mammals. Ants, beetles, spiders and bugs are essential components of any habitat garden. Insects Fallen twigs and branches, rocks and leaf litter provide the perfect home for spiders and beetles. Grasshoppers prefer tall grasses, crickets need damp grassy areas and dragonflies are attracted to grasses around ponds.