Habitat Gardens
Lennox is home to many wonderful creatures including echidnas, bandicoots, possums, wallabies and a variety of birds and lizards. Creating habitat for wildlife in your garden is one way you can help to ensure their survival. Here a some tips on how to create a haven for both you and the wildlife to love...
1. Create layers and diversity
- When planning your garden, try to establish layers which mimic what we find in our natural areas - you’ll need a tree layer, mid layer and ground layer.
- Leave some leaf litter and fallen branches - this is habitat for invertebrates and insects, and feeding areas for frogs, lizards, small mammals and ground birds.
- Plant a variety of species which provide a range of foods such as nectar, fruits or berries, and seeds. Also plant species which flower at different times to provide year-round food for wildlife.
- Place rocks, boulders or logs around for lizards and frogs to shelter in.
- Don’t forget wildlife needs water - so putting in a frog pond or bird bath is a good idea.
2. Plant natives local to Lennox
We have many great local native plant species to choose from. When choosing keep in mind that some plants grow better in sandy soils and others in red soils.
Lennox Natives for the Garden - a quick guide
There are so many great local native species suitable for a Lennox habitat garden. These are just a few that are easy to get your hands on at local nurseries.
Ground-layer
With any luck you shouldn’t need to invest too much in ground layer species. Many of these will simply pop-up in your garden and it’s more about knowing what they are and not pulling them out. Also, if you have a tree that birds are fond of, you’re likely to find a variety of local trees popping up underneath it. Remember that if plants aren’t popping up where you want them to you could always transplant them somewhere more suitable. Common pop-ups are soft brackens, native violets, commelina and basket grass.
Mid-layer
Tree Layer: Banksia, Tuckeroo, Brown Kurrajong, Beach Bird’s Eye, Lilly Pilly, Macaranga, Bangalow Palm.
Mid Layer: Cordyline, Native Ginger, Midgen Berry, Walking Stick Palm, Burrawang, Grass Tree.
Ground Layer: Blechnum Fern, Birdsnest, Pigface, Dianella, Native Violet.
Mid Layer: Cordyline, Native Ginger, Midgen Berry, Walking Stick Palm, Burrawang, Grass Tree.
Ground Layer: Blechnum Fern, Birdsnest, Pigface, Dianella, Native Violet.
Cordyline
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Native Ginger
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Midgen berry
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Tree-layer
Brown Kurrajong
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Tuckeroo
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Macaranga
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Coastal Banksia
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Beach Bird's Eye
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3. Explore and learn
The best advice we can give you is to get out and explore our local nature. Walk the headlands, the dunes and the heathlands. Learn about the plants we have and the animals they attract.
