Beautiful gardens are among the top ways to instantly give your yard the makeover it may need. Adding a variety of plants not only adds colour but encourages birds, bees, and butterflies to move into your yard. The only drawback of a beautiful garden is the costs associated with watering and routine maintenance.
Fortunately, locals are making use of the landscaping Frankston residents rely on, to keep their gardens looking amazing. These landscapers achieve these beautiful gardens by opting for native plants rather than weak, delicate flowers that require constant attention and care. This post takes a closer look at a few of the top reasons why native plants are a better option.
What Exactly are Native Plants?
If you’re new to gardening, then you may think that one plant is much like another. It’s essential to point out that this isn’t the case. Native plants refer to those that are found naturally in your region.
These are plants that have learnt to survive in the area’s climate without needing additional maintenance. In some instances, these plants have taken hundreds of years to evolve and adapt to the temperature, water levels, and soil conditions. Native plants are commonly referred to as indigenous to a specific area.
Every Garden Needs Native Plants
Landscapers will also recommend adding native plants to your garden. You can do this by planting them directly into the ground, in pots, or even in raised bed gardens. Many homeowners opt for a combination of all these solutions to create a textured and beautiful garden. Our horticulturist has shared a list of the top reasons why native plants are beneficial for your outdoor space.
1. They Only Need Rainfall
It can be difficult to maintain beautiful plants in your garden especially if you live in a water-scarce area or you have chosen plants that need extra care. Since native plants have adapted to the average rainfall of a specific area, they won’t require additional pampering.
Native plants are renowned for being able to survive on rainfall alone. The first year may require you to water them often if there’s no frequent rainfall. This is to make them hardy and after the first year, your plant will be strong enough to thrive on rainfall alone. Native plants also adapt to the heat and varying temperatures of the Australian climate.
You also won’t need to invest in supplements and special growth hormones, chemicals or pesticides to get your plants to grow. As natural survivors, your native plants can survive without needing all this additional care and constant external nourishment.
2. Many Options to Choose From
Another huge benefit of adding native plants to your garden is that there are hundreds of varieties to choose from. You’ll easily be able to find a wide range to include in all aspects of your garden. Since many native flowers are brightly coloured, you won’t have to worry about ending up with an all-green garden.
You can tell your landscaper about the colours you’d like to add to your space, and your landscaper will recommend the most suitable ones. A few common options may include the following:
- Eucalyptus
- Grevillea (red)
- Native bluebell (purple)
- Correa (pink)
- Bottlebrush (red)
- Waratah (bright pink)
- Australian Daisy (white)
- Acacia wattle (yellow)
With some clever planning, you’ll easily be able to create a colourful garden made up of many different varieties. Your landscaper will add mulch and stones to your pots and garden area to accentuate your outdoor garden design.
3. You’ll be able to Improve Biodiversity
Biodiversity is an essential part of creating an effective and beautiful garden. Increased biodiversity has many benefits such as improving your garden’s ecosystem, purifying the air, and improving soil condition. Native plants increase natural levels of nitrogen and phosphorous.
Birds, bees, and butterflies will also be attracted to your garden, ensuring that pollination occurs for flowers, herbs, fruits, and veggies to grow. If you combine your plants with a water feature such as a waterfall, creek or pond, you’ll easily create shelter and food for local wildlife such as frogs and amphibians. This goes a long way toward creating a tranquil garden.
4. Can Extend to Your Herb Garden
If you want to add more than regular flowers and plants to your garden, you’ll be pleased to learn that native variations extend to your herb garden as well. You can opt for naïve herbs to reduce the maintenance required and increase the chances of survival.
A few common herb options worth considering are:
- Native mint
- Bush tomato
- Native oregano
- Sea parsley
- Native thyme
- Lemon myrtle
- Native basil
Final Thoughts
If you’re adding plants to your garden, speak to your landscaper about the best native variations for your area. Not only will you increase the biodiversity in your garden, but you will also use less water to maintain it. Plants that sustain themselves allow you to have a beautiful garden without all the hard work!