Create a nature haven

Step 1.Register for Nature Havens program

The Nature Havens program supports Maroondah residents to make their gardens more wildlife friendly. 

A member of Council's Bushland Management team will come to your garden and discuss ways you can provide more food, shelter and water for wildlife. You will be provided with a report customised for your space which will include recommendations for making your garden a more wildlife friendly nature haven.

Register for Nature Havens program

Step 2.Read Wildlife Gardens Maroondah

Wildlife Gardens Maroondah provides practical advice for the home gardener. This booklet is a collaboration between CRISP Nursery and Maroondah City Council.

Wildlife Gardens Maroondah(PDF, 24MB)

Step 3.Assess your garden

Look for areas that can be converted into habitat stepping stones. These could be small patches of lawn, unused corners, or areas that receive plenty of sunlight.

Assess the plants you already have, and which animals are using them. Some exotic plants provide excellent habitat for native animals without being weedy. Rather than immediately removing vegetation, consider adding new plants to fill any gaps and enhance the overall habitat.

Step 4.Explore Maroondah’s natural environment

Get some inspiration and ideas for your garden by exploring your local bushland reserve.

Visit the iNaturalist website to see local observations.

Step 5.Control the weeds

Controlling weeds on private property helps surrounding bushland by preventing the spread of invasive species and preserving the health and diversity of locally native plants. For more information on common weeds in Maroondah see Environmental weeds.

A permit may be required to remove some woody weeds, see Tree and native vegetation removal.

Before you start controlling the weeds, take some time to observe what animals are currently using them for food and shelter, and remove them slowly until replacement food and shelter has been provided.

Step 6.Choose indigenous plants

Choosing indigenous plants that are locally native is environmentally friendly, adds beauty to your garden and provides food and shelter for fauna such as birds, stingless native bees and butterflies.

For more information see Using indigenous plants in your garden

Step 7.Provide for wildlife

The three essential elements that wildlife need to survive are food, water, and shelter.

Food

Providing a diverse range of plants is key to providing food year-round. Aim for a variety of:

• plant types such as groundcovers, grasses, shrubs, climbers and trees
• plants that flower over different times of the year
• food types such as fruit, seeds, leaves and nectar

Avoid planting large nectar-rich, showy flowers (like Banksias, Callistemons and some hybrid Grevilleas) as these may encourage large and aggressive honeyeaters such as Noisy Miners and Red Wattlebirds which can chase away smaller birds. Instead focus on species with bell shaped flowers such as Correa, Kangaroo Paw, Eremophila and Epacris.

To attract butterflies and other pollinators to your garden, ensure you have plants that provide:

• food for their caterpillars, such as indigenous grasses and sedges
• nectar
• perching opportunities.

Encourage mosses, liverworts, hornworts and lichens to your garden. For more information see page 13 of CRISP Magazine Spring 2022.

Please note: most grasses can be planted together in clumps, but larger plants such as Eucalypts will need some distance between them to give them space to grow.

Water

A small bird bath or pond can provide a much-needed source of water for wildlife.

For more information on providing water in your garden for birds visit the Birds in Backyards website.

Shelter

There are many ways you can help provide shelter for wildlife in your garden. Consider creating a:

• Pollinator pad
  Build an insect hotel and plant swathes of wildflowers

• Lizard lounge
  Plant tall grasses, add a layer of bush mulch (bark, leaves and sticks) and include some rocks, logs and groundcover plants for protection. Keep some areas open and include some rocks in sunny spots for the lizards to sunbathe on.

• Frog bog
  Create a pond in a sunny area with shallow areas and gentle slopes for easy access, and add rocks, logs and indigenous aquatic plants around the edges for protection.

• Small bird sanctuary
  Plant dense and prickly plants, leave some natural perches, and feature a bird bath surrounded by dense vegetation to protect small birds from predators.

• Nesting nook
  Install a species specific nest box to provide a home for birds, microbats and sugar gliders.

Plant an indigenous eucalypt in your garden if you have the space - they are essential for the survival of small birds.