Bush-friendly and water-wise gardens
Book a bush-friendly garden visit
We offer a free garden package to residents who want to make their gardens bush-friendly.
Bush-friendly gardens are low maintenance. They reduce water use, suit Eurobodalla's climate and provide flowers year-round. They also attract birds, butterflies, lizards, and frogs. Our garden package includes:
- a voucher for plants at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden nursery
- a home visit from our Environment Team to identify plants in your garden that could escape into surrounding bushland
- advice on:
- what to do about these escapees
- alternatives you can plant
- other ways to make your garden more bush-friendly.
How you can make your garden bush-friendly
- Remove invasive flora (weeds) and common garden escapees.
- Mulch garden beds to help retain water and nutrients.
- Avoid watering in the heat of the day.
- Keep pets inside from dusk to dawn so they don't prey on native animals.
Bush-friendly garden inspiration
Visit Moruya Library's stunning bush-friendly garden for some fresh ideas and inspiration.
Book a water-wise garden check
A typical NSW household uses about 60% of its water in the garden. A few small changes can help your garden thrive, and:
- lower your water bills
- minimise water use
- reduce the time you need to maintain your garden.
Our water-wise garden program can help you get the most out of every drop with expert advice on garden water use. You'll also learn how to create and keep a colourful and water-efficient garden that will flourish in local conditions.
As part of this program, you can book a free water-wise garden check-up, which involves:
- A home visit from a member of our Environment Team who will give you advice on:
- mulching
- plant choice
- garden design
- how to make your garden more water-wise.
- We can provide you with a voucher for free native plants at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden nursery.
Tips for a more water-efficient garden
- Make sure your soil is always covered by mulch. Mulching soil will:
- prevent it drying out
- protect your plants from heat and frost
- provide important nutrients
- help control weeds which compete with your plants for vital water.
- Place moist newspaper over your garden beds before mulching. This helps with water retention and will reduce your weeds.
- Group plants with similar water needs together. Water your plants in the early morning or evening for best results.
- Replace your lawn with one of the warm-season grasses such as Buffalo, Couch or Kikuyu. These species need about 30% less water than cool-season grasses.
- Get the right irrigation system - use a water-efficient irrigation system like leaky hoses and dripper systems. These provide smaller amounts of water to the base of the plant.
- Planting with hydrated water-storing crystals will:
- lengthen the time between watering
- increase plant survival in dry periods
- absorb up to 400 times their own weight in water
- be effective for up to five years before they break down.
- Longer deep soaks are better than frequent watering. Deep soaks encourage roots to move deeply into the soil.
- Check your garden for pests and diseases regularly. This will help you to better understand your plants' watering needs.
- Raise your lawnmower blades and use a mulching lawnmower. You can also leave grass clippings to help make your lawn more drought tolerant and stay greener for longer.
More information
- Smart Approved WaterMark: Saving water in the garden
- Smart Water Advice - Water saving tips
- Water Corporation: Selecting the right tree
- Water Corporation: How much water does my garden need?
- Smart Approved WaterMark: Plant finder - water-efficient plants
- Sustainable gardening Australia
- Smart Approved WaterMark: Certified water efficient products
- Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Garden: Plants you can buy for your garden
Contact us
To book your free water-wise garden check or bush-friendly garden visit, contact our Natural Resources Team:
- T: 4474 1000
- E: Natural Resource Team