Australia has an incredible diversity of wildlife with many of these native animals providing benefits to your garden like pollinating plants, helping to control pests, and improving the health of your soil. By attracting these animals to your lawn, you can receive these benefits while also helping to keep the local ecosystem balanced. In this blog we’ll cover a few ways that you can attract native wildlife to your lawn. For more information on how to attract native birds to your lawn, you can check out our blog.
Skip to: Plant pollinator plants around your lawn, Bird baths and water sources, Leaf litter in garden beds, Native trees and shrubs.
Plant Pollinator Plants Around Your Lawn
Growing a variety of pollinator plants in your backyard will create a food source for a range of native animals, attracting them to your lawn. The pollinator plants can attract native birds, bees, and butterflies. By having a variety of pollinator plants, you will provide several options for the native animals in your area.
Smaller insects like native bees and butterflies will prefer open flowers that they can easily access.
Native birds like lorikeets will prefer plants with blooms rich in nectar providing a tasty food source.
Native pollinator plants options include bottlebrush, banksias, and kangaroos paw. Some of these plants will be better suited to specific regions of Australia. Get in contact with your local nursery to find out which ones will be best suited to your garden.
Bird Baths and Water Sources
When it comes to supporting native wildlife, water sources are just as important as food sources, especially in the hot summer months. Bird baths can provide a place to bathe and drink for birds in your lawn. The best way to place these is to find a spot that is raised off the ground and near trees and shrubs, so that they feel safe from predators. Changing the water in the bird bath every few days will help to keep it clean and keep native birds visiting your garden.
If you have enough space in your lawn, a small pond can attract several different kinds of animal. Frogs, lizards, and dragonflies will all use ponds as a place to rest, breed, and drink. Surrounding a pond with some small rocks or dense plants provides shelter and protection, making it more enticing for the native wildlife.
Leaf Litter in Garden Beds
Leaf litter plays an important role in the ecology of your lawn. Leaves and debris create a habitat for insects. This, in turn, creates a food source for native birds, lizards, and frogs who will all be attracted to your lawn. This leaf litter can also provide shelter for smaller lizards and frogs. They will use it to hide from predators and regulate their temperature in hotter weather.
As it decomposes, the debris will improve the soil health in your lawn. It releases nutrients into the soil and helps retain moisture in the ground.
Instead of raking and throwing away leaf litter and debris, try to leave some in garden beds or in quiet corners of your lawn. You may even want to mix in some sticks and barks to make a functional habitat for reptiles and insects.
Native Trees and Shrubs
Native trees and shrubs provide wildlife with essential shelter, nesting sites, and protection from predators.
Dense shrubs and bushes like westringia or tea trees provide shelter for smaller birds like wrens and finches. These small birds prefer thick plant cover that allows them to hide from predators and build nests that are hidden.
Larger trees like eucalyptus and paperbarks provide nectar and seeds, and attract insects which many animals feed on. The canopy of these larger trees also provides perching and nesting spots for birds like cockatoos, kookaburras, and rosellas.
By filling your lawn with native trees and shrubs, you provide native wildlife with a safe, long-term home.
For more advice on how you can improve your lawn, check out our other blogs.
