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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.

Image A colourful bird sitting on a tree branch
Image A close-up image of a blue wren bird sitting on a tree branch
Image A close-up image of a yellow heath wattle branch
Image A close- up image of a red bottlebrush plant
Image A close-up image of a masked bee sitting on a pink and orange flower
Image Close up image of a yellow hairpin banksia plant
Image Close up image of a grey and yellow bird sitting on a vertical tree branch
Image Close up image of a pink woolly grevillea flower and leaves
Image Two people walking through a garden
Image A woman crouches in a lovely native garden.
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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:

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

Contact us

To book your free water-wise garden check or bush-friendly garden visit, contact our natural resource team: