- Daniel Fuller
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Designing Native Bush Garden Layouts
Have you ever considered the environmental and aesthetic benefits of a native Australian bush style garden?
Native bush style gardens are not only visually stunning, they also echo the unique essence of Australia’s natural landscapes. They play a crucial role in preserving local flora and fauna within urban ecosystems, and can be a rewarding project for any gardening enthusiast.
Understanding the Basics of Native Garden Design with Australian Native Plants
What is a Native Bush Style Garden?
A native bush style garden is a landscape design that incorporates plants indigenous to Australia, with a distinctly bush-style aesthetic. Plants are generally drought-hardy, with Myrtaceae members that have strong-smelling oils, Proteaceae members that have adapted to low phosphorous amounts, and lomandras that can hold the soil together.
Native bush gardens don’t have to be boring. There are some amazing textures and colours to be found in the bush, including foliage, bark, flowers and fruits. This could include wild types grown from seed or cultivated varieties developed through breeding and cloning.
Native bush style gardens contribute significantly to preserving local flora and fauna. They provide habitats for wildlife and maintain biodiversity, fostering an environment where both endemic and migratory species can thrive. They also provide a place where at-risk plants can be grown, thereby protecting precious genetic material.
Benefits of Native Bush Style Gardening
Native bush style gardens offer numerous environmental benefits. They provide food and habitat for native fauna, supporting biodiversity in our ecosystems. While it’s not a hard and fast rule, some native plants require less maintenance than exotic plants, as they are adapted to local conditions.
Moreover, while exotic plants can provide valuable food sources for generalist pollinators, certain specialist native pollinator-plant relationships exist that aren’t supported by non-native plants. This includes the shapes of certain native flowers which have adapted to the mouth parts of certain insects, bats or birds.
Lastly, native plants hold a special place in our hearts. They symbolise the uniqueness of our beautiful country and remind us of our connection to the land.
Key Considerations in Designing a Native Bush Style Garden
Understanding Plant Preferences in an Australian Native Garden
When designing a native bush style garden, it’s important to understand the preferences of the plants you’re incorporating.
This includes:
- Light requirements: Some plants thrive in full sun, while others prefer partial shade.
- Space requirements: Every plant has its own space requirement for optimal growth.
- Soil type: Many native plants are adapted to specific soil types.
- Climate tolerance: Ensure the plants you choose can withstand local weather conditions.
- Moisture needs: Understand the watering needs of your plants.
- Nutrient preferences: While some native plants have adapted to low nutrient availabilities, most can handle general fertilisers. However, plants from the Proteaceae family require low phosphorous.
When selecting plants, always read the label to see how big your plants will grow, and their specific soil, moisture and climate requirements. Not every plant that we love will be able to thrive in our garden’s conditions.
Incorporating Design Principles in Australian Native Gardens
Incorporating design principles such as colour, line, balance, form, texture, proportion, unity, repetition, contrast, and focal points can create a visually appealing native bush style garden.
Here’s how:
- Colour: Use plants with different flower and foliage colours to create visual interest.
- Line: Lines lead the eye around the garden. Use plant arrangements to create lines.
- Balance: Aim for a sense of equilibrium in your garden.
- Form: Consider the shape and structure of plants.
- Texture: Varying textures add depth to your garden.
- Proportion: Ensure the size of the plants is in harmony with other elements in the garden.
- Unity: A common theme can bring unity to your garden.
- Repetition: Repeating certain elements can provide a sense of continuity.
- Contrast: Contrasting colours or textures can make elements stand out.
- Focal points: These are areas that draw attention. Choose an interesting plant or feature as your focal point. Then help draw attention to it using the above principles.
Working with Your Land
Designing a native bush style garden involves working harmoniously with the land rather than against it. This approach often leads to a more naturalistic and sustainable design.For those with steep slopes in their landscape, creating retaining walls can help manage soil erosion and provide level areas for planting.
Choose appropriate plants for your soil type to avoid unnecessary expenses on soil amendment. A plant that thrives in your particular soil will require less maintenance and amendments in the long run.If water runs to a particular part of the garden, create a rain garden to absorb that water deep into the water table, rather than treating it as a waste product and draining it out to sea.
Steps to Design Your Own Native Bush Style Garden
Site Analysis
Before you start designing your garden, conduct a thorough site analysis. Assess your garden’s conditions, including the amount of sunlight, wind exposure, and existing vegetation.Soil testing is another step in site analysis. It helps determine the soil’s pH level and nutrient content, enabling you to select suitable plants or amend the soil if necessary.
You can purchase a cheap pH test from your local hardware store (Manutech is a good one), or you can pay for a proper soil analysis through a scientific lab. This is a bit more costly but can save headaches down the line – knowledge is power!
Also, take accurate measurements of your garden beds and spaces. This information will be invaluable when you start sketching your garden design.
Sketching a Garden Design
Sketching your garden layout on paper can be a fun and creative process. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
- Draw the boundaries of your garden space.
- Mark out any existing features such as trees, buildings, or paths that you plan to keep in the design.
- Sketch in any new features you want to add, like paths, seating areas, or water features.
- Add in your plant selections, ensuring you consider their mature size.
- Calculate the amount of mulch, compost, pebbles, etc. Straight lines are easy to measure, but curvy and angled lines can be trickier. Where possible, turn odd shapes into even ones by combining spaces into rectangles for calculation purposes.
Common mistakes when sketching a design include poor measurements (which leads to headaches during construction), not considering the full-grown size of plants (leading to overcrowding), and not taking into account the garden’s aspect (which could affect plant growth and health).
Plant Selection
One of the golden rules in horticulture is “right plant, right place”. Begin by selecting species that are likely to thrive in your garden, so you don’t have to replace them when they die.
Embrace diverse plant types with native shrubs, strappy plants, ground covers, grasses and trees.
Some excellent plants for a native Aussie bush style garden include:
- Lomandras
- Westringias
- Callistemons
- Eucalypts
- Lilly pillies
- Correas
- Kangaroo paws
- Native grasses
- Banksias
- Grevilleas
- Myoporum
- Hardenbergia
- Yellow Buttons
- Paper Daisies
Of course, this is by no means an exhaustive list. Research suitable varieties for your local conditions, or visit a local native nursery to see their available stock.
Planting and Care
Proper planting techniques go a long way in ensuring the survival and growth of your plants. Dig a hole twice as wide and just as deep as the root ball of your plant. Place the plant in the hole and backfill with soil (and compost), firming it gently around the base of the plant.
Ongoing care and maintenance involve watering, mulching, pruning, and fertilising if necessary. Remember that some native plants prefer low phosphorous fertilisers, especially plants from the Proteaceae family.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Designing Native Bush Style Gardens
Avoid overcrowding plants; they need space to grow and breathe. Ignoring the local climate and soil conditions can also lead to plant stress or even death. Placing plants together into beds with different nutrient and water needs is another common mistake; remember that different plants have different water and nutrient requirements.
Conclusion
Designing a native bush style garden is a rewarding experience that brings a piece of the Australian landscape into your own backyard. By understanding your site, sketching a thoughtful design, choosing suitable plants, and providing proper care, you can create a stunning garden that supports local biodiversity.
So why not give native bush style gardening a go? Embrace the beauty of Australia’s unique flora and make a positive impact on your local environment.
This material is protected by copyright. Except for use in landscape plans and fair dealing for private study, criticism, or review under the Copyright Act, no part may be reproduced without written permission. Direct enquiries to Ozbreed Green Life Pty Ltd.
The views expressed may be personal and not official policy. Plants are natural products and may die for various reasons. Ozbreed believes the information is correct at publishing but does not guarantee accuracy or accept liability for inaccuracies or photo colour discrepancies. Images are illustrative and may not reflect the actual product’s size, colour, or appearance.
All information is for general guidance and not a substitute for professional advice. Ozbreed makes no warranties, express or implied, regarding the fitness or suitability of any plant or product for a particular purpose. Plant performance may vary based on regional climate, soil type, and other conditions. Users should independently verify the suitability of plants, products, and advice, consulting local experts to determine the best choices for their location.
Some plants may cause allergic reactions or require specific care. Users should research potential allergies, toxicity, or safety concerns before selecting or planting products. Review technical specifications to ensure products or plants meet your requirements. Ozbreed is not liable for how information is used.
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Daniel Fuller
Daniel is a writer and content creator for Ozbreed, one of Australia's leading native and exotic plant breeders.
Daniel has worked in various capacities within the horticulture industry. His roles have ranged from team leader at several companies, to creator of the Plants Grow Here podcast and Hort People job board, as well as his position on the National Council for the Australian Institute of Horticulture (AIH).
He received the Award of Excellence from the AIH in 2013 for his work in horticulture media as well as with TAFE students, and has been nominated again in 2024.
He's passionate about explaining how to care for different types of plants to ensure home gardeners and professional horticulturists alike can get the most out of the plant babies.
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