The Time is Now to Plan Your Next Planting Project!

Published 8th October 2021. Written by Maddison O’Brien

When I say native plants, most people would straight away think of tall eucalypt trees, red bottlebrush or vibrant wattle, maybe some kangaroo grass or a kurrajong, if you know your stuff! What if I told you that the diversity of our local natives is astonishing, and you have access to local keystone species through our Watershed Landcare Nursery.

Our incredible volunteers have this season’s plants ready to go to their new homes. You won’t find plants like these anywhere else; our tube stock is grown with love from local seeds, and the species are carefully selected to thrive in our region.

You don’t have to be an expert in native plants to enjoy the benefits of having them in your patch. Our planting and selection guides make it easy to choose what plants are best for your soil type and location, and with Spring in full swing, now is an ideal time to get busy! So why not jump on to our website www.watershedlandcare.com.au and buy a few tubes to add to your garden or paddocks for a great price? Members also receive a discount!

If you’re like us and you have a vision for your land and like to think about long-term productivity and resilience, then the Growing Recovery Project is for you! In a nutshell, this project allows Watershed Landcare members and bushfire affected landholders to receive up to 120 locally grown tube stock for free; they even come with biodegradable guards. There’s no catch! The offer is available for 80 rural landholders only, so get on it before orders close. The plants will be grown especially for you and ready to plant in Autumn 2022, so you have plenty of time to plan where you would like them to go. In case you’re wondering, yes, it’s ok for you to sign up as a Watershed Landcare member just to take advantage of this offer. You can find out more and place your order on our website.

Learn about planning your plantings at sustainablefarms.org.au/article/native-shelterbelts. Image supplied by Suzannah Macbeth.

When planning a planting project, commonly, people will think about trees, but it’s so important to remember understorey plants as well. The understorey is just as crucial to an ecosystem as the canopy, providing habitat for small birds, insects and protecting the soil. A healthy understorey will also optimise a shelterbelt, providing wind protection and shade at different levels over a longer timeframe. Aim for a shrub to tree ratio of 3:1, and make sure to plant large trees at least 10m apart.

For more information about plantings and the Growing Recovery Project, get in touch; we’re here to help!

The Landcare Led Bushfire Recovery project has been supported by the Australian Government’s Bushfire Recovery Program for Wildlife and their Habitat.