How to attract wildlife to your garden

Call of the wild

A garden can be an opportunity to create a thriving ecosystem and natural habitat in your backyard.

Native birds, reptiles and insects all play crucial roles in a healthy ecosystem. Some birds and insects are valuable pollinators, for example, while predatory frogs and lizards feed on insect pests. Beetles, slaters and millipedes break down decaying plant matter, adding essential nutrients to the soil. Increasing urbanisation across Australia has displaced much of our local fauna but – as gardeners – we can help by providing a safe habitat and food resource for a host of beneficial creatures.

On top of that, there’s great joy to be found from pottering in a garden full of colourful butterflies and bees, listening for the evening call of frogs, watching honeyeaters busy at work in a grevillea, or spying a blue-tongue lizard sunning itself on a rock. Bunnings Greenlife buyer Katy Schreuder says being able to observe nature in our own backyard can improve our wellbeing and mindfulness.

“Even something as simple as a well-placed bird bath can offer a critical water source for birds during dry weather and gives hours of pleasure to the keen observer who can watch the different visitors throughout the day,” she says.

Here's how to attract more wildlife into your garden.

Flowers and plants to attract wildlife

The more native plants you have in your garden, the more birds you can attract. Native plants that attract birds include gum trees, wattle, acacias, banksias and grevilleas.

Katy suggests including a diverse selection of plants, to encourage year-round visitors to your yard. “Natives with different flowering seasons throughout the year – like banksia, leptospermum, callistemon and grevillea – can provide valuable nectar for many birds and insects,” she says.

Attract bees to your garden

Attracting bees to your garden is a great way to keep it healthy and vibrant. Mixing flowers amongst your vegetables can help to increase your harvest, because the bees will help the vegies develop by pollinating them. Birds and insects are attracted to flowers because they produce sugar (nectar) and protein (pollen), which is the basis of their diet.

Tip: The most bee-friendly coloured flowers are yellow, blue and purple.

“Perennial flowers such as lavender, salvia and rosemary also attract insects – which are pollinators as well as a valuable part of the food chain for other creatures such as frogs, birds and reptiles,” says Katy.

Flowering annuals like alyssum, cosmos, marigold, sunflower and zinnia, and herbs including borage, thyme and rosemary are also great for attracting nature such as bees, butterflies and other beneficial insects to your garden.

Plant at different heights for a diverse mix of visitors

Creating different levels in your garden with tiered planting will provide opportunities for a variety of native fauna to feed, nest and take shelter. “Choose plants with different heights – low groundcovers, mid-level shrubs and trees, and canopy trees – to give a wide range of choices for various-sized creatures,” says Katy.

This encourages birds to live amongst the canopy of the trees and shrubs. Native wildlife will nest and hide under the trees and within bushes, whereas insects will live underneath mulch and within ground covers.

As a planting guide, good native groundcover options include fan-flower (Scaevola), cut-leaf daisy (Brachyscome), creeping boobialla (Myoporum parvifolium) and Grevillea ‘Bronze Rambler’. For trees and shrubs, try correa, westringia, abelia, buddleia, callistemon, leptospermum, flowering eucalypts, wattle and banksia. You don’t need to plant one of each – grouping a few of the same variety together is ideal.

A pile of logs or rocks may look unassuming but can be a protective haven for small insects and reptiles. Rocks absorb heat which insects and reptiles need for their energy. “It gives them a spot for shelter and refuge from the elements,” says Katy. (However, if you're in an area that is prone to snakes, be cautious and seek advice with this garden feature.)

“Similarly, ‘insect hotels’ can be used as a nesting or sheltering habitat for a range of different insect species, including solitary bees and other native pollinators,” Katy adds.

Use water to entice native animals and birds

Jac Semmler, horticulturist and creative director of plant practice Super Bloom (@jac.semmler), suggests including water sources where possible in your green space to encourage and support wildlife. “Consider placing sticks or stones in any water trough or pond so bees and lizards have safe access and escape from the water,” she advises.

A bird bath will give birds a place to have a drink as well as a paddle – place it in a sheltered spot where the birds will feel protected, keep the water fresh and clean, then enjoy the show! An elevated bird bath will help them to feel safe from any predators like cats. Make sure that the water is shallow enough for birds to stand in so they can clean their feathers. You should also clean it out regularly so that the birds avoid picking up any water-borne illnesses or diseases.

Water for wildlife should be topped up regularly and cleaned frequently, says Katy. And always be mindful of children and the dangers of water, whether the body of water is small, large, shallow or deep. Before putting in a water source such as a pond, “check with your local council for pool regulations,” she says. Also, consider safety features such as a mesh cover.

What not to do

Where possible, avoid having any bare ground in your garden. “There’s a plant out there for any situation that will help draw birds, beneficial insects and other wonders into our gardens,” says Jac. “Verges or nature strips are also great places to plant out and encourage wildlife, so do what you can to increase the greenlife in your neighbourhood.”

Tip: Rules and regulations regarding the planting of nature strips vary according to where you live, so check with your local council before planting anything outside your property.

If planting every bit of your garden isn’t possible, spread a layer of organic mulch or decaying leaf litter over unplanted areas. This will improve your soil quality, as well as providing a moist habitat that insects and worms love. Mulch can help to suppress weed growth and provide a welcome habitat for beetles and other small insects, as well as adding organic matter to the soil as it breaks down. The best mulch to use in your backyard would include native leaf litter, which comes from pruning and mulching the branches from your own native trees.

Also, try to protect wildlife from your pets. “Fenced areas can help keep curious pets and local fauna apart,” Katy says. “Cats should not be allowed to roam at night and should wear a collar with a bell to warn birds of their approach.”

While it’s tempting to feed wildlife, Katy says it’s not a good idea. “Feeding bread to birds can lead to increased risk of diseases and environmental pollution,” she says. “Instead, create an environment where they have access to plenty of natural food sources.”

Also, when birds, bees and other wildlife visit your home’s garden, observe but try not to disturb them.

Hybrid varieties of flowers and plants are also something to avoid in your garden if you want to attract birds. Hybrids have been bred for commercial fruit or their appearance and they often lack the nectar that birds and bees are looking for.

What to plant for bees and butterflies

Encourage bees and butterflies into your garden by providing what they love most: a plentiful supply of nectar and pollen. This handy planting guide is a great starting point.

Native: Grevillea is a magnet for bees and nectar-feeding birds; its foliage also provides shelter from nature’s predators.

Evergreen: Rosemary’s highly aromatic flowers attract a variety of bees and pollinators while helping to repel flies and mosquitoes.

Annual: Marigolds are irresistible to butterflies as well as many beneficial insects that help control bad bugs.

Keep in mind…

• Safety tip: Always wear the appropriate safety equipment (safety glasses, gloves, and a mask, for example) and always follow the instructions for the product or equipment. Always store products out of the reach of children and pets.
• Wear gardening gloves and a mask when handling mulch.
• Take care when selecting your plants as some can be poisonous to children and pets.
• Ponds more than 30cm deep may require fencing. Contact your local council for permit and approval information relevant to your area. Children must be supervised at all times around water.

To kickstart your thriving backyard ecosystem…

Check out our range of bird baths, houses and feeders.

Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

Photo Credit: GAP Photos, Brent Wilson, Rob Whitworth, Getty Images, Bridie Mahoney