Introduction

There are many residents of the Blue Mountains who have developed an interest in creating an environmentally friendly garden around their home.

Why have they developed this interest?

• Conventional gardening practices have potential to degrade and damage local bushland, indigenous wildlife habitat, the national park network and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA).
• More than 300 exotic garden plants (introduced plant species), such as ivy, holly and honeysuckle, have been categorised as environmental weeds by Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC). They infest local bushland and cause extensive environmental damage.
This garden offers a range of resources for visiting indigenous wildlife (P Ardill 2025)
• A garden that features a wide range of locally indigenous plant species (the vegetation that occurs naturally in the Blue Mountains) can offer considerable aesthetic and sensual pleasures.
• There is the additional interest and delight to be gained from creating a garden that offers natural resources for indigenous wildlife, such as birds, turtles, geckos, skinks, frogs, possums, bandicoots, antechinus and many more.
• An environmentally friendly garden can directly and indirectly assist indigenous wildlife, as they adjust to the challenging impacts of climate change.

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What is an environmentally friendly garden?

All gardens are unique, and an environmentally friendly garden can take many forms.

Prominent features of an environmentally friendly garden are:

Environmental weed, Cordyline, creates dense, monotonous groves (P Ardill 2024)
• The ways in which indigenous animal species (native animals) and adjoining bushland might be adversely impacted by gardening practices are anticipated, and effectively managed.
• Environmental weeds have been removed, or at the least, are highly controlled. For more information about environmental weeds, see https://bluemountains.org.au/environmental-weeds.shtml.
• Where possible and practical, locally indigenous plant species are utilised to complement local bushland, make efficient use of naturally occurring resources such as rainfall and soil, and provide habitat for indigenous animal species.

There is no single, fixed way to create an environmentally friendly garden. The following advice and resources are intended to serve as a guide. They may assist with avoiding common mistakes, save money and resources, and provide encouragement when disappointments and setbacks inevitably arise!

Most importantly, assess your site carefully, conduct research, seek advice, prepare a plan and carefully implement it.

Be prepared for setbacks, and if they do occur, examine alternative approaches. Remember, even the most difficult sites can produce stunning, environmentally friendly outcomes!

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Site assessment

Before commencing any work, conduct a thorough site assessment. This is an essential step, because plant selection can be heavily influenced by the physical conditions that characterise the site.

Here are some important assessment considerations. Remember, conditions may vary across the site e.g. soil type.

• Is the site located in the upper, mid or lower Blue Mountains? Check average annual local temperatures and rainfall at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website (http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/).
• Are frosts common? Many plant species are frost sensitive.
• Are there any other climatic factors that should be considered?
• Does the soil tend to be dry, moist or even quite wet? A level site may become very damp or even boggy during wet periods. Slopes are usually well drained and even prone to dryness.
• Is the soil sandy or sandstone coloured and so probably of average to lower fertility, or is the soil a darker, more fertile loam? Sandstone based soils of lesser fertility are common in the Blue Mountains.
• Aspect is important. Is the planting site quite sunny, or perhaps shady? This can vary throughout the year. Most plant species prefer regular exposure to sunlight. Ferns tolerate shady conditions.
• Is the garden sheltered, or are there sections that are particularly exposed to winds?
• What about remnant indigenous vegetation? These plants should be carefully protected. Avoid disturbing them.
• Consider whether there is potential for natural regeneration of indigenous vegetation, especially if bushland is located adjacent to the site and distributing seed.
• What about environmental weeds? Create a weed map, and carefully plan how weeds will be removed. See the Managing environmental weeds section below.
• What other features of the site might influence plant selection?

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Planning and plant selection

Create a garden plan

Use the information acquired during the site assessment to create a garden plan. A paper and pencil diagram is usually sufficient.

The plan should display all the important features of the site, as assessed.

Mark in dwellings, paths, ponds, retaining walls and other necessary infrastructure.

Next, visualise the type of vegetation that is required or personally preferred for each section of the garden: tall or small trees, shrubs, ground-covers, ferns, bushy plants for privacy, ornamentals for display etc.

Dense layers of vegetation are highly desirable. In particular, they create excellent habitat for indigenous wildlife.

At this stage of the design process, it is important to note that the growth characteristics of each plant must match the physical characteristics of the proposed planting site, if plants are to thrive.

For example, if choosing locally indigenous plants for a planting site that regularly exhibits damp soil, it is essential to purchase damp tolerant plant species, such as Leptospermum polygalifolum (Tea-tree), Hakea salicifolia (Willow-leaved Hakea), and Callistemon citrinus (Bottlebrush). For a very damp site, ferns may be more suitable, or even sedges.

Therefore, choice of plants will be influenced by three factors:

• practical requirements e.g. privacy;
• personal preferences e.g. certain plant forms or flower colours; and
• conditions that prevail on the site.

Mark in the plan the vegetation characteristics and plants that are required or preferred for each section of the site, and be sure to note the site conditions.

The plan should display any existing locally indigenous plants, for conservation.

The plan should consider bushfire safety. Some types of locally indigenous and exotic plants are very flammable e.g. eucalypts, pines, conifers. For personal and home safety, definitely avoid planting adjacent to or very close to buildings, particularly in bushfire vulnerable areas. If you live in a bushfire vulnerable area, consider consulting the NSW Rural Fire Service and its home management advice (https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/). Installation of water tanks and pumps may be a good idea.

Finally, as familiarity with the site and its characteristics develops and matures, regularly check the garden plan, and if necessary, revise.

Plant selection

Are you happy with the garden plan? Now it is time to select the plants!

As discussed, the growth characteristics of the plants must match the conditions of the site.

To choose suitable plants, conduct some World Wide Web research into plant growth characteristics. Ask neighbours and friends about their gardens. Examine local gardens and bushland.

And of course, nursery staff are usually able to provide information about plants and their growth characteristics. To enquire about suitable plants for a site, indicate the preferred or required vegetation type and plants, and explain the site conditions.

For example, a mid-Mountains site in Lawson may require bushy, screening vegetation to establish privacy. The soil in that section of the site is sandstone based, well drained and often tending towards dryness. Which plants would act as an effective screen and be tolerant of the prevailing conditions?

Enquire about the height and width that each plant will eventually grow to, particularly trees.

Remember, some plant species exhibit sharp edged leaves, sharp tips on leaves, thorns, toxic stems, flowers and leaves, and other unpleasant features. Avoid these species if they are likely to be a concern.

Now it is time to consider a very important question: which type of plants should be selected, indigenous/native plant species, or exotics? Perhaps both!

As discussed, planting locally indigenous plant species is a wildlife friendly choice, and will produce an extremely attractive garden, featuring unique, profuse displays of flowers and fruits. Also, the plants that grow naturally in your area are extremely well suited to local soil and climatic conditions.

In the Blue Mountains, locally indigenous plant species are sold at Blue Mountains Conservation Society Nursery Blackheath (https://bluemountains.org.au/nursery.shtml), Wildplant Rescue Native Plant Nursery Katoomba (https://www.wildplantrescue.org.au/) and Glenbrook Native Plant Reserve and Nursery (https://apsbluemtnsgroup.org/).

It is important to note that the distribution of some indigenous plant species growing in the Blue Mountains may be limited to certain localities. For example, Corymbia exima, a tree, prefers lower altitudes.

Some commonly available plant species of the Blue Mountains are:

• Taller trees: Allocasuarina littoralis, Eucalyptus racemosa, Corymbia gummifera and Corymbia exima (mid to lower Mountains) are all attractive, and usually grow to around 15-20 metres. Eucalyptus piperita and Angophora costata are taller specimens that usually exceed 20 metres. Avoid planting trees near power lines, footpaths, buildings and other sensitive sites.
• Smaller trees/tall shrubs: Acacia longifolia, Acacia obtusifolia, Banksia ericifolia, Banksia serrata, Banksia spinulosa, Cyathea australis (tree fern), Hakea dactyloides, Hakea salicifolia, Hakea teretifolia and Leptospermum polygalifolium.
• Shrubs and ground-layers: Acacia terminalis, Blechnum nudum (fern), Callistemon citrinus, Dianella various species (ground-layer),Geranium species aka Cranes Bill (ground-layer), Grevillea laurifolia (ground-layer), Grevillea sericea, Isopogon anemonifolius, Kunzea ambigua, Leptospermum juniperinum, Lomandra longifolia, Microlaena stipoides (grass), Olearia elliptica, Persoonia levis, Persoonia mollis, Petrophile pulchella and Prostanthera rotundifolia.

Other plant species may be seasonally available.

Wildplant Rescue Native Plant Nursery at Katoomba regularly "rescues" bushland plants located on sites destined for housing development. Some hard to get plant species are frequently available at this nursery.

To help with the selection of locally indigenous plants, an excellent reference book is "Native Plants of the Blue Mountains", by Margaret J. Baker and Robin Corringham. As at 2025, the book was available in local bookshops.

If opting to plant some exotic plants, the Conservation Society recommends that they be purchased from  commercial nurseries accredited by Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC). These nurseries undertake to not sell priority listed environmental weeds.

The list of BMCC accredited nurseries can be accessed at https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/bushland-nursery.

Additionally, to check on the environmental weed rating of an exotic plant species, see the Environmental Weeds section on this website (https://bluemountains.org.au/environmental-weeds.shtml).

Also, if choosing exotic garden plants, consult the Australian organisation, Gardening Responsibly. Gardening Responsibly has conducted extensive research into the weed potential of numerous garden plant species, and the results can be accessed at https://www.gardeningresponsibly.org.au/. Best of all, the website offers lots of non-weedy garden species to choose from!

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Managing environmental weeds

As discussed, to create a truly environmentally friendly garden, it is highly desirable to remove any existing environmental weeds. In a new garden, this should be done before any planting sessions commence.

When dealing with a large number of weeds, prepare a management plan, prioritise the most serious weeds, and tackle them in a steady, methodical way.

Indigenous wildlife may be using existing weeds as food or nesting resources, and if this is the case, staged removal may be best.

Where removal is not possible, try to collect any seed produced by weedy plants. Place collected seed in a BMCC green bin.

Visit the Environmental Weeds section on this website for weed lists, weed illustration guides and additional weed information websites (https://bluemountains.org.au/environmental-weeds.shtml).

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Planting the garden

The timing of planting sessions very much depends on seasonal conditions. Here are some essential planting tips:

• In particular, avoid planting during anticipated periods of frost, or cold, windy weather.
• Summer and autumn are the wettest seasons in the upper, mid and lower Blue Mountains. Generally, these are favourable planting seasons.
• Avoid planting large quantities of plants during extended hot, dry or drought periods, as new plantings will find these conditions stressful.
• Allow appropriate growing space between each plant.
• Prepare a spacious planting hole for each plant, as loosened soil assists root development. Ensure that the hole is not too deep or too shallow.
• Many gardeners like to add 1-2 litres of water to the hole before planting, especially if the soil is dry.
• Even in damp conditions, supply 1-2 litres of water to each plant immediately after planting, as this assists root development by eliminating air bubbles and helping soil to settle.
• Mark plantings with a stake. Cardboard plant protectors can be purchased or improvised. Avoid plastic protector bags.
• Apply fertiliser sparingly, as it can burn young, sensitive roots.
• Keep new plants moist by providing  additional water for 2-3 months following planting, especially in dry conditions.

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Garden management

Chemicals

Many gardeners use a range of everyday chemical products to improve their gardens, and control pests and diseases. However, many of the chemicals contained in these products can adversely affect bushland vegetation, streams and native wildlife.

Careless and illegal use and disposal of chemicals has resulted in the mass killing of stream bugs (or macroinvertebrates) and crayfish in the Blue Mountains.

Snail bait, although usually labelled animal friendly, can still be dangerous for wildlife and pets, when directly accessed by them and consumed. Snail, mouse and rat baits, even when activated inside a safety container, can kill wildlife that consume the carcasses of poisoned animals.

Try to minimise the use of chemical and other commercial fertilisers. Environmental weeds invariably benefit from large amounts of fertiliser runoff. Locally indigenous vegetation is usually disadvantaged. Home-made compost is best!

Also, a chemical free garden containing lots of locally indigenous plants fosters the insects, such as ladybirds and lacewings, that consume aphids, scale and other garden nuisances.

There are many chemical-free gardening management tips available on the World Wide Web. For example, to remove snails and slugs, create a damp, sheltered outdoor space, and then regularly collect them by hand. Beer/yeast also attracts snails and slugs, and facilitates their easy removal.

Many environmental weeds can be manually removed, by excavating or digging them out with a trowel or mattock. Do small sections at a time.

If using a chemical based herbicide, avoid spraying. Use a small dropper bottle to dispense herbicide, drop by drop. This technique minimises use of herbicide and avoids contact between herbicide and people/indigenous vegetation and wildlife.

Vegetables and fruit trees

Vegetables and fruit trees require constant care, and neglect can result in disease and wasted produce. Therefore, to minimise these problems, carefully calculate a manageable size for vegetable plots, and the number of fruit trees that can be adequately managed.

Position vegetable plots and fruit trees away from bushland, to avoid runoff of excess water and fertilisers into bushland.

Avoid using bird netting. To protect any fruit growing in your garden, use individual, reusable fruit protection bags. If netting is absolutely required, then use the wildlife friendly netting recommended by WIRES (https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/wildlife-friendly-netting).

Some fruits, vegetables and herbs are listed as environmental weeds, and can spread into adjacent bushland and swamps. St John’s Wort (Priority Weed), mint, lavender, strawberry and blackberry (Priority Weed) are common examples. Priority Weeds should be removed from a garden.

Garden maintenance

Regularly observe how exotic plant species are behaving in your garden. Plants that spread rapidly, for example by suckering, or produce numerous seedlings are a concern. Consider removing these plants, especially if they are becoming established in adjacent bushland, along stream banks, or in nature reserves.

As garden waste and lawn clippings often contain seeds and other plant propagules (material from which mature plants can develop), do not dispose of them in or near bushland, streams, nature reserves and national parks.

Place all green waste in a compost heap, mulch pile, or in a BMCC green bin. Be sure that green waste is well decomposed, before using it as garden mulch.

Under certain conditions, some weed seed can be safely composted. But if unsure, and to ensure thorough disposal, the safest practice is to place seed in a BMCC green bin.

Wildlife safety

Think about how your garden and its infrastructure may adversely affect any visiting and resident indigenous wildlife.Consider the well-being of birds, wallabies, antechinus, snakes, geckos, skinks, turtles, insects such as bees, wasps, may-flies and caterpillars, and any other local wildlife.

Avoid using bird netting for any purpose. As mentioned, to protect any fruit growing in your garden, use individual, reusable fruit protection bags. If netting is absolutely required, then use the wildlife friendly netting recommended by WIRES (https://www.wires.org.au/wildlife-information/wildlife-friendly-netting).

Avoid fencing that may harm, restrict or trap indigenous wildlife. Wire fences, and particularly barbed wire, can injure and kill wildlife.

Avoid feeding indigenous or introduced wildlife. It is unnecessary, and feeding can spread disease. Animals that have been regularly fed may become aggressive if feed is withdrawn.

Many introduced wildlife species turned feral cause considerable damage to bushland, and kill indigenous wildlife. Avoid direct contact and report foxes, dogs, cats, horses, deer, pigs, rabbits and other feral introduced species to BMCC, the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service and the NSW Department of Primary Industry.

Conserve bushland

Check the boundaries of your garden, property or green space carefully. Be careful to not inadvertently encroach on adjoining public bushland, streams and protected areas, such as national parks.

Conserve bushland located on your property, and ensure that fertilisers and exotic plants do not spread into this bushland.

Consult BMCC before lopping trees or clearing bushland on private property, as current council vegetation management regulations and environmental zonings may regulate or even prohibit these activities. A breach of these regulations can lead to formal warnings and even prosecution by council.

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Welcoming indigenous wildlife

We all get a thrill when indigenous wildlife (native animals/fauna) make use of our garden, or even settle in and stay! Observing their behaviour is engrossing, especially if youngsters are being reared. Also, a wildlife friendly garden can benefit animals stressed by fire, drought or other extreme natural events.

Consider the well-being of wildlife

When planning a wildlife friendly garden, do ensure that the safety of wildlife is a paramount consideration.

• Are domestic or feral dogs and cats a concern?
• Is your fencing safe for wildlife?
• Could bird netting harm wildlife?
• As already discussed, it is best to completely minimise or even better, totally avoid the use of chemical fertilisers, baits and pesticides. They can often harm or kill indigenous wildlife.

All indigenous wildlife (fauna) in NSW is legally protected (Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016), with the exception of dingoes.

Do not disturb, handle or interfere with wildlife that is visiting or living in your garden. Avoid feeding, as it is unnecessary and could cause harm.

Observe and enjoy wildlife from a respectful distance.

Be tolerant of any minor damage that wildlife causes e.g. digging.

If garden wildlife does appear to be injured or in distress, contact WIRES: 1300 094 737.

Avoid contact with dangerous wildlife. In the Blue Mountains, snakes are the most likely dangerous garden visitors. Do not disturb, handle or interfere with snakes. If removal is necessary, contact a licensed snake handler.

Planting considerations

To create a wildlife friendly garden, start by establishing a range of the indigenous plant species listed in the above Planning and plant selection section.  Nursery staff will be able to help with additional suggestions, and advise if hard to get species are available for sale.

As discussed, establish dense layers of vegetation. Many indigenous wildlife species avoid open spaces and keep close to dense patches of vegetation, for protection from predators.

Birds

Recent research suggests that indigenous bird species' diversity in urban areas is declining (Campbell et al. 2022). Creating a bird friendly garden is a great way to help with the management of this issue.

A garden that exhibits a good range of locally indigenous vegetation is sure to attract lots of local bird species. As discussed, try to establish a good selection of the locally indigenous plant species listed in the above Planning and plant selection section.

Commonly available Blue Mountains plant species that particularly provide shelter and nourishment for birds are:

• Acacia longifolia, Acacia obtusifolia and Acacia terminalis. The seeds (enclosed in pods) of these wattles are popular with Crimson rosellas (Platycercus elegans) and Australian King-Parrots (Alisterus scapularis). Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos (Zanda funerea) are attracted to the grubs that bore into Acacia longifolia.
• Banksia serrata, Banksia ericifolia, Banksia spinulosa, Callistemon citrinus, Lambertia formosa, Melaleuca hypercifolia. Nectar-feeding birds, big and small, are particularly pleased to encounter these plant species - where possible, plant densely.
• The seeds of uncut indigenous grasses such as Microlaena stipoides and sprawling indigenous herb, Geranium species (or Cranes Bill) are also popular with birds, particularly parrots.
• Small birds enjoy foraging for insects in dense stands of Leptospermum and Hakea species, in clumps of ferns such as Blechnum nudum, Blechnum wattsii and Gleichenia dicarpa, and in dense undergrowth - they like hedges too.
• Where possible, leave twigs, fallen branches, leaves and mulch on the ground, as these are valuable resources for birds and provide habitat for insects.

As discussed, when planting, establish dense layers of vegetation: tall trees, smaller trees, shrubs, ground-layers.

In particular, smaller birds require dense, connected stands of vegetation. The connectivity and density provide smaller birds with shelter and constant protection from larger, aggressive bird species.

Directly feeding local birds and other indigenous wildlife species is not recommended. It is unnecessary, can cause illness and even death due to bad diet, and can contribute to the spread of diseases.

If a natural water body is not locally available, then consider creating a bird bath, especially in dry and drought conditions. Place bird baths in a sheltered position. However, bird baths must be cleaned at least once every day, as dirty water can spread disease throughout bird populations.

Observing the precautionary principle, if you cannot ensure that a bird bath remains clean throughout the day, then perhaps the safest and most responsible practice is to dispense with a bird bath completely.

If a wide range of indigenous vegetation is present in the garden, then lots of birds will still continue to visit!

Other indigenous wildlife

Other wildlife species are also likely to be attracted to an environmentally friendly garden that features lots of local vegetation. Lizards, frogs, bandicoots, antechinus, possums and insects including butterflies, indigenous bees and wasps are common visitors. Control domestic cats and dogs.

As discussed, try to establish a good selection of the locally indigenous plant species listed in the above Planning and plant selection section.

Commonly available locally indigenous plant species that particularly seem to attract insects are: Acacia terminalis, Hakea salicifolia, Hakea teretifolia, Leptospermum juniperinum, Leptospermum polygalifolium, Olearia elliptica and other Olearia species and Philotheca myoporoides in the mid to lower Mountains.

Boggy areas and carefully designed, rainfall fed ponds support frogs, dragon-flies and other moisture loving insects, as well as birds. Provide dense layers of vegetation nearby.

A World Wide Web search will readily reveal many frog attracting and pond design tips, and how ponds should be managed.

Ensure that ponds are safe for children. Check with BMCC for any safety regulations.

When walking in the bush, take note of the indigenous plants and other environmental features that indigenous wildlife make use of. Incorporate these plants and environmental features into your garden. Please do not remove bush rock, timber or other natural objects from bushland.

Consider joing a local bushcare group, and help to restore degraded wildlife habitat and ecosystems. See https://bushcarebluemountains.org.au/.

Happy gardening! Please do share your experiences and constructive feedback about this webpage by emailing bushcare@bluemountains.org.au.

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Prepared by BMCS Bushcare Officer (2025). Much of the advice offered here is based on many years of home bush gardening in the upper Mountains and professional bush regeneration experience in the bush.

Photographs taken in the bush gardens of Peter Ardill and Shirley Brown, Blue Mountains. Many thanks to Shirley for kindly making her beautiful bush garden available.

The Bushcare Officer may be able to help with enquiries and additional information. Contact:bushcare@bluemountains.org.au.

Thank you for considering the advice offered by the Society. Please note that Blue Mountains Conservation Society is a volunteer environmental organisation. Members of the Management Committee have many skills and a wide range of experience but are volunteers and do not claim to offer professional standard advice. If in doubt about your particular matter of concern, please seek professional advice.

Recommended resources:

• Baker M.J. and Corringham R. (2004) Native Plants of the Blue Mountains Bower Bird Books
• Birdlife Australia How To Create A Bird-friendly Garden
• Foundation For National Parks and Wildlife (FNPW) Backyard Buddies Build A Frog Pond
• Loos, T. (2024) Living with Wildlife CSIRO Publishing
• Nature Conservancy Australia Five Ways To Create A Wildlife Friendly Garden
• PlantNET New South Wales Flora Online 
• WIRES Wildlife friendly Gardens

Reference:
Campbell, C.E., Jones D.N., Awasthy M., Castley, J.G., Chauvenet A.L.M. (2022) 'Big changes in backyard birds: An analysis of long-term changes in bird communities in Australia's most populous urban regions' Biological Conservation 272 109671 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2022.109671