This instalment of Sustainability at Home investigates how you can green up your home, backyard or nature strip with indoor or indigenous plants.
Plants have many benefits, and indigenous plants in particular are winners when it comes to outdoor planting because they use less water, attract good bugs, insects and birds, and are more tolerant to the local environment.
An easy place to get started – greenify your indoors!
Did you know plants absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen to help keep air clean, so why not greenify and purify your indoors?
Most indoor plants are great, but some can be toxic to animals and children if ingested so be sure to check first.
Here are three varieties that add colour, oxygenate and are non-toxic to touch:
- Bamboo Palm – these are hardy and can stand low-light. Keep roots moist and give the leaves a regular misting to increase humidity.
- Green Spider Plant – they can tolerate low-light and minimal water and do well in bright indirect sunlight.
- Purple Waffle – whilst tolerant of low light, it prefers rich moist soil with abundant indirect sunlight.
Looking for more? Plant indigenous beauties!
The autumn planting season is upon us, so our resident experts at the Nangak Tamboree Wildlife Sanctuary have shortlisted their favourite indigenous plants.
They also have a handy plant finder to help with selection, or your local council may have a list of species suitable for your area.
Here are the team’s favourites:
- Cut-leaf Daisy – Great for pots and small planter boxes. Grows in full sun and shade and flowers all year round if kept moist.
- Tufted Bluebell – Ideal for pots and open sunny positions, adding a splash of purple in summer.
- Showy Violet – Prefers the shade and grows well in pots – flowers from the beginning of spring.
- Rosemary Grevillea (pictured below) – Flowers in winter and spring and attracts nectar feeding birds.
- Hop Goodenia – Flowers through the spring and summer, tolerates full sun to full shade, keep moist in summer periods.
Ready for a challenge? Put ‘nature’ into your nature strip!
Traditional mowed nature strips are common in Australia’s urban environment, but did you know that nature strips are public land that is looked after by private residents? There are many benefits to turning your nature strip into a garden, particularly with indigenous plants which require less maintenance. Planted nature strips also:
- Create an attractive buffer between the road and path
- Attract birds and the bees
- Increase your street appeal
- Require little or no maintenance once established
But before you unleash the guerrilla gardener within you, first check with your local council as some have regulations for nature strip planting.
You can use some of the previously recommended plants or check out Sustainable Gardening Australia and Recreating the Country to help you put the ‘nature’ back into your nature strip!
