Introduction

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

• Gardening is a healthy and enjoyable activity, but there are gardening practices that degrade and damage local bushland and the habitat of local native wildlife, the national park network and the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (GBMWHA).
• Some garden plants introduced to the Mountains from overseas or from other areas of Australia have been categorised as environmental weeds by Blue Mountains City Council (BMCC). Unless controlled, they infest local bushland and cause extensive environmental damage. Examples include Cootamundra Wattle, Holly, Ivy, and Japanese Honeysuckle.
This garden offers a range of resources for visiting indigenous wildlife (P Ardill 2025)
• A garden that features locally indigenous/native plant species (the vegetation that occurs naturally in the Blue Mountains) exhibits a range of unique aesthetic and sensual qualities.
• Creating a garden that provides natural resources for local wildlife adds a further dimension to the interest and delight of gardening.
• Also, an environmentally friendly garden can assist local wildlife species, as they adjust to the challenging impacts of climate change.

The advice offered on this webpage can be utilised by residents who are planning to create an entirely new garden, and also by residents with an established garden who wish to make it more environmentally friendly, while retaining original design features and plants.

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The environmentally friendly garden

An environmentally friendly garden exhibits several key, prominent features.

Environmental weed, Cordyline, creates dense, monotonous groves (P Ardill 2024)
• Local wildlife species are safe.
• The ways in which local bushland and the GBMWHA might be adversely impacted by gardening practices are anticipated, and effectively managed.
• The plant species used in the garden are not a source of environmental damage. In particular, introduced plant species that are classified as environmental weeds have been removed, or at the least, are very highly controlled.
• Where possible and practical, local native plant species are well established or are being progressively installed, for their aesthetic features, to make efficient use of naturally occurring rainfall and soils, and to support local wildlife.

There is no single, fixed way to create an environmentally friendly garden, because all gardens are unique, and an environmentally friendly garden can take many forms. 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 planting 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. Prepare a basic plan/layout of your garden block, and enter your observations in the plan.

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

• Mark in dwellings, paths, ponds, retaining walls, and other necessary infrastructure. Note neighbouring features that are relevant e.g. dwellings.
• Note significant natural features of the site: rock outcrops, depressions, boggy areas, drain lines/streams, raised and exposed areas, slopes etc. These features can influence plant selection. Note adjoining bushland and other natural features.
• Plant selection should also take into account local climate, particularly rainfall and temperature. Is the site located in the upper, mid or lower Blue Mountains? Check local average annual temperatures and rainfall at the Australian Bureau of Meteorology website (https://www.bom.gov.au/).
• Do frosts occur? Many plant species are frost sensitive.
• 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 quite average to low fertility, or is the soil a darker, more fertile loam? Sandstone based soils of lesser fertility are common in the Blue Mountains. On these soils, plants adapted to richer soils are likely to be unsuitable. Note: soil quality may vary throughout the site.
• Aspect is important. Is the planting site quite sunny, or perhaps shady? Most plant species prefer regular exposure to sunlight. Ferns tolerate shady conditions. Note: sunlight and shade can vary throughout the year.
• Is the garden sheltered, or are there sections that are particularly exposed to winds? On exposed, windy sites, planting trees may not be appropriate.
• What about remnant native vegetation? These plants should be carefully protected. Avoid disturbing them.
• Consider whether there is potential for natural regeneration of local native 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 garden design and plant selection?

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Planning and plant selection

Create a garden plan

Now it is time to add more detail to the basic assessment plan of your garden site.

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. But do remember that it may be necessary to be flexible and adjust this aspect of the plan, because the growth requirements and habits of plants must match the physical characteristics of the proposed planting site, if they are to thrive.

For example, if choosing local native plants for a 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.

Also, bushfires occur in the Blue Mountains, and the garden plan should consider bushfire safety. Some native and exotic plants are very flammable, such as eucalyptus and conifers. See the next section for a BMCC list of local native plants that are suitable for use in bushfire vulnerable locations. For personal and home safety, definitely consider not 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.

The garden plan should display any existing local native vegetation, and how it will be conserved.

Having carefully considered the above factors (don’t rush it!), mark in the garden plan the types of plants that are required or preferred for each section of the site e.g. tall screening shrubs, ferns, ornamentals, a shade tree.

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

Plant selection

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

But first, there is an important, interesting choice to consider: local native plant species, or exotics? A mix of both can be okay too, particularly if exotic vegetation is already well established, as long as any existing environmental weeds have been removed, and new weeds are not planted.

Planting local native plant species is an environmentally friendly choice, and will produce an extremely attractive garden, featuring unique, profuse displays of flowers and foliage. Also, the plants that grow naturally in your area are extremely well suited to local soils, and the climate. There is considerable pleasure, interest, and satisfaction to be gained from creating a garden that is utilised and enjoyed by local native birds and other wildlife, supports their offspring and provides them with natural resources during lean years.

Certainly, there are exotic plants that display a wide range of colourful flowers and attractive foliage, are wildlife friendly, and do not invade neighbouring bushland. But please choose carefully, by avoiding environmental weeds and following the advice presented in the following paragraphs.

To make suitable plant selections, it is essential to acquire knowledge about the growth requirements and habits of plants. Ask local neighbours and friends about their gardens. Examine local gardens and bushland. Conduct World Wide Web research.

And most importantly, nursery staff are knowledgeable, and happy to provide information about plants and their 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 is sandstone based, well drained and often tending towards dryness. Which plants would act as an effective screen and be tolerant of well drained, dry conditions?

Enquire about the height and width to which plants will eventually grow, particularly trees.

In the Blue Mountains, local native 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/).

Some regularly 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 cunninghamii, 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.

Also, BMCC has prepared an extensive list of local native plants that are suitable for use in bushfire vulnerable locations (https://www.bmcc.nsw.gov.au/sites/default/files/docs/Best_local_natives_for_bushfire_prone_areas.pdf).

It is important to note that the natural distribution of certain native plant species growing in the Blue Mountains may be limited to specific localities. For example, Corymbia exima, a tree, prefers lower altitudes. As discussed, best practice is to use the native species that occur naturally in your area, as they are well adapted to local temperatures, rainfall and soils.

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

Remember, quite a few native and exotic plant species exhibit one or more unpleasant features: sharp edges on leaves, sharp tips on leaves, unpleasant odours, thorns, or even toxic stems, flowers and leaves. Avoid these species if they are likely to be a concern.

Now it is time to select suitable plants and record them in the garden plan. Check that the following points have been considered:

• physical conditions prevailing on the site will satisfy the growth requirements and habits of each selected plant,
• all essential landscaping needs have been factored in, such as privacy and bushfire safety,
• the plants are available at garden nurseries,
• plants with undesirable features have not been selected, including environmental weeds, and
• existing native vegetation will not be disturbed.

Try to visualise how the garden will look in ten years, once the selected plants have matured. Are you still happy with your selections and plan? Revise and check carefully, until completely satisfied. Then it’s time to purchase and plant!

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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, they 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.
• To assist root development, apply mild, home-made mulches and compost, and where appropriate native plant fertilisers.
• Keep new plants moist by providing  additional water for 2-3 months following planting, especially in dry conditions.

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Garden management

Pesticides

Many gardeners use a range of everyday pesticides to control pests, weeds and diseases, and to improve their garden.

Pesticides may be either organic (natural) or synthetic (artificially created). Although organic pesticides are often safer to use than synthetic pesticides, even organic products can be quite dangerous for humans, pets, wildlife and beneficial insects e.g. Derris dust, Neem oil.

Four common types of pesticides are:

• Fungicides, to control moulds and fungus on plants.
• Herbicides, to kill unwanted plants, particularly environmental weeds.
• Insecticides, to control unwanted garden insects.
• Rodenticides, to control introduced nuisance animals, such as Black Rats and mice. (Note: do not confuse Black Rats with the native rats that live in the Mountains. The latter tend to avoid urban areas. Introduced mice should not be confused with native Antechinus species).

Many of the chemicals contained in these products can adversely affect bushland vegetation, aquatic life in streams, and native wildlife, as these examples illustrate.

• Careless, illegal use and disposal of chemicals have 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 local wildlife and domestic pets when directly accessed by them and consumed. Blue-tongued Lizards are particularly affected in the Blue Mountains. They are a natural predator of snails, and if left unharmed will keep snails in check.
• Snail, mouse, cockroach and rat baits, even when placed inside a safety container, can kill local wildlife that consumes the carcasses of poisoned animals, so avoid using them, or use extremely sparingly.

Some pesticides are much safer than others, so choose carefully before purchasing. Also, there are a range of natural ways to manage unwelcome garden visitors.

• Try completely avoiding use of pesticides and their chemicals to control garden pests, at least for a trial period. A chemical-free garden containing lots of local native plants fosters the insects, such as ladybirds and lacewings, that consume aphids, scale and other garden nuisances.
• Companion planting can also help to control garden pests.
• Specially prepared soap and garlic sprays, home-made or available at garden nurseries, control unwelcome insects such as aphids.
• To reduce slug and snail infestations, create a damp, sheltered outdoor space that attracts these gastropods, then regularly remove them by hand. Beer/yeast also attract snails and slugs and facilitate their removal.
• To help manage Black Rats and mice, clean up pet food and any other food morsels regularly.
• Instead of using herbicides, many environmental weeds can be manually removed, by excavating or digging them out with a trowel or mattock. Do small sections at a time. Hot/boiling water kills many weeds.
• If using herbicide to remove weeds, 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.
• Check the World Wide Web for other suggestions.

Vegetables and fruit trees

Vegetables and fruit trees require constant care, and neglect can result in disease and wasted produce. Don't over-plant! Carefully calculate the required number of fruit trees and a suitable size for vegetable plots, so that they can be properly managed throughout the year.

Position vegetable plots and fruit trees away from bushland, to avoid runoff of excess water and fertilisers into bushland. Create a grassed buffer zone around vegetable plots and fruit trees, to absorb nutrient runoff.

Try to minimise the use of commercial fertilisers. Environmental weeds invariably benefit from large amounts of fertiliser runoff. Local native vegetation is likely to be damaged. Milder, home-made compost and mulches will foster growth of vegetables and fruit trees. Any runoff generated is unlikely to damage nearby native shrubs and trees, particularly if buffered by a vegetated area.

Birds are easily caught and damaged in bird netting, or even killed. Minimal or complete non-use of bird netting is preferable. 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 by BMCC as 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. Choose non-weedy varieties, and control seeds and spreading stems and roots. Remove problem vegetables and herbs, especially if they are becoming established in adjacent bushland.

Managing water runoff

Urban areas contain many hard surfaces, such as roads, paths and driveways, and runoff from these hard surfaces significantly contributes to stormwater flows during periods of heavy rain. Stormwater surges erode and damage our local streams, and distribute the garden fertilisers and nutrients that encourage environmental weed growth.

Consider buying a rainwater tank, to help control and slow erosive stormwater runoff from your property into gutters, and then into local streams. Permeable paving, grassed areas, garden beds and gravel paths also absorb rainfall and minimise stormwater runoff from private property. Drain hard surfaces towards lawn and garden beds, instead of straight into gutters. Build a home raingarden, to help slow and filter runoff from your house and property. Preferably, wash your car on or near a grassy area, to reduce waste water and detergent flows into gutters.

Garden maintenance

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

As discussed, minimise the use of commercial fertilisers. Milder, home-made composts and mulches are best for vegetables, fruit trees, garden shrubs and trees, and bushland and streams!

Regular garden maintenance can generate a lot of unwanted plant material, such as lawn clippings and pruned branches. As garden waste and lawn clippings often contain seeds and other plant propagules (material from which mature plants can develop), please 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. Before using green waste as garden mulch, do make sure that it is well decomposed. 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

In the Blue Mountains, we are fortunate to have a wide range of local wildlife species that frequently visit our gardens. Small, medium and large birds, arboreal mammals including Common Brushtail Possums and Sugar Gliders, ground-dwelling animals such as wallabies and antechinus, snakes and lizards, bees, wasps, insects such as dragonflies and caterpillars, and lots more, are potential visitors!

Gardens and properties that are particularly close to bushland may be utilised by a very large number of local wildlife visitors.

Think about how your garden and its infrastructure may adversely affect any visiting and resident wildlife.

As discussed, snail, mouse, cockroach and rat baits, even when placed inside a safety container, can kill wildlife that consumes the carcasses of poisoned animals, so don't use them, or if essential, use very sparingly.

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 local wildlife. Wire fences, and particularly barbed wire, can injure and kill wildlife.

Supervise domestic dogs and cats, as they are quite capable of injuring and even killing local wildlife. Cats are safer when kept indoors or in a comfortable caged area. Don’t leave domestic pets outside and unrestrained at night.

Encourage beneficial insects by planting insect-attracting plants like native Tea-trees (various Leptospermum species) and Olearia elliptica, both readily available at native nurseries.

Keep ponds shallow or wire net the opening to prevent wildlife from drowning. Cover the top of tanks.

Avoid feeding native wildlife and introduced feral animals. It is unnecessary, and feeding can spread disease. Animals that have been regularly fed may become aggressive if feed is withdrawn. Although undesirable visitors, garden owners should be considerate and ensure that their property is safe for feral animals. Humane control of feral animals is the responsibility of authorised government personnel.

Conserve bushland

All bushland in the Blue Mountains is owned or managed, usually by public entities, including BMCC and the NSW NPWS, or by private landowners, companies and other organisations.

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. This is a form of trespass.

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.

Use bush-friendly landscaping supplies

As discussed, all bushland is owned and managed by some form of entity, so unauthorised removal of natural materials (timber, bush rock, stones, complete plants, flowers, seed and soil) from public and privately managed lands constitutes theft, and is illegal.

Bush rock belongs in the bush, where it is an integral part of animal habitats. Removal of bush rock may incur fines of many thousands of dollars

Collecting bushland plant species, such as ferns, orchids, or attractive flowers results in damaged wildlife habitat, and seriously impairs the future ability of these plants to recover from disturbance, including bushfires. The collected plant species may become locally rare or even locally extinct.

Consider these alternatives.

• Artificial stones, rocks and other manufactured landscaping materials are attractive and versatile.
• Recycled sandstone, quarry offcuts, new or recycled bricks and recycled hardwood are often available.
• Consult local landscapers but insist on using non-bushland material.
• Visit the local native plant nurseries listed above and ask staff about the availability of local plant species. In particular, Wildplant Rescue Native Plant Nursery, Katoomba, regularly "rescues" bushland plants located on sites destined for housing development. Some quite hard to get plant species are often available at this nursery.

Happy gardening! Thank you for considering our local bushland and wildlife, as you go about your daily gardening chores and activities.

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Welcoming indigenous wildlife

We all get a thrill when local wildlife species 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

As discussed, an environmentally friendly garden should be safe for wildlife.

• 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 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 local wildlife using your garden appears 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. But do remember, other wildlife species can become aggressive, especially if they are caring for youngsters. Be considerate, maintain distance and do not alarm the parents!

Many introduced, feral animal species 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.

Planting for wildlife

To create a wildlife friendly garden, start by establishing a range of the local 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 wildlife species avoid open spaces and keep close to dense patches of vegetation, for protection from predators.

Birds

Recent research suggests that 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 local native vegetation is sure to attract lots of bird species. As discussed, try to establish a good selection of the 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 cunninghamii, 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 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 local wildlife

Many 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 plant species listed in the above Planning and plant selection section.

Commonly available plant species that particularly seem to attract insects are Acacia terminalis, Hakea salicifolia, Hakea teretifolia, Leptospermum juniperinum, Leptospermum polygalifolium and other Leptospermum species, Olearia elliptica and other Olearia species and Philotheca myoporoides.

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 native plants and other bushland resources that indigenous wildlife make use of. Incorporate these plants and environmental features into your garden. As discussed, please do not remove bush rock, timber or other natural objects from bushland.

Consider joining a local bushcare group, and help to restore degraded wildlife habitat and ecosystems. See https://bushcarebluemountains.org.au/. Participating in bushcare is a great way to learn about local plant communities and local wildlife.

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.
Shirley gratefully acknowledges the valuable advice of Jill Dark and Deirdre Morton.

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

Many thanks to BMCS Website Officer, Alan Crooks, for constructing and revising this webpage.

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