How to plant your local natives

Grow a Great School Factsheet

Native plants often take a long time to get used

to a new area after being planted from a pot. To
give your plants a great start on life, you can
follow these easy steps!

Step 1: Digging the hole

The hole should be twice as deep and twice as wide as
the pot the plant is in. In hard soils, or soils with lots of
clay in them, it is important not to make the sides of
your hole too smooth and shiny. The hard soil can be
like the walls of the pot, too hard for the roots to push Diagram of proper planting methods with a ‘watering bowl’.
through and grow. To stop this from happening, you Artwork: Mel Spurling
can use a fork to loosen the soil around the edge of
your hole. Also, you should fill the hole with water and
let it soak away before you put your plant in.

Step 2: Soak the potting mix

Soak the pot the seedling is in by placing the plant pot
in a bucket of water until it stops bubbling (just make
sure you don’t put the entire plant under water! Leave
the leaves poking out). This helps get rid of air around
the plant’s roots and makes it easier to get the plant
out of the container. If you have some, you can also
add a seaweed extract to the water to make the roots
grow faster once it is on the ground.

Step 3: Remove the plant from the

container
Be careful not to touch or crush the roots too much. The
soil and root ball should come away from the pot
easily, but if not, you can tap the edge of the container
lightly with a small garden tool, or squeeze the pot a
little, to loosen the soil. Do not try to pull the plant from
the pot by its leaves or stems. This can break the leaves
and stems away from their roots, killing the seedling. If
the seedling is stuck, soak it some more, or get an adult
to help you. When you turn the pot upside down to tip
out the seedling, try to cover the end of the pot with
your fingers, to catch any loose soil which may fall out.
When the seedling is out of the pot, if the roots look as
though they are twisted tightly around the potting mix,
you can tickle them gently to loosen them up a bit.
Push soil back in the hole and push down firmly to make a
small bowl around the plant.
Step 4: Backfill soil
When your seedling is in its hole, push soil back in all
around the seedling’s roots, making sure you fill it in on
all sides. Push down firmly on the soil you have filled in
to the hole, and make a small ‘bowl’ around the plant
to collect any rain that may fall (see diagram and
photos above). Always water your new plants
immediately after they have been planted, to settle the
soil and get rid of any air pockets. Newly planted
seedlings need to be soaked - not sprinkled with water.
A good soaking reduces evaporation and encourages
roots to become stronger, by growing deeper and
looking for moisture.
 When do I plant?
If you can, plant in autumn or winter. This means
your plants will get as much rain as possible
before the next hot weather in summer. You may
also have to water your new plants about once a
week during the first summer, while they are still
young. But eventually, water from winter rains will
be all they need!

Watering and mulch

Even in winter, if you are planting new plants,
remember that rain alone isn’t enough. Make sure the
roots of your newly planted seedlings don’t dry out until
they can survive on their own. If you stick your finger in
the ground near the plant and it’s dry, you need to
water it!

In summer, soaking with water once a week

(depending on weather conditions) is much better
than a daily spray. Also, it is much better for your plants
if they are watered when it is cool in the morning or
evening.

Adding a layer of mulch to your garden can help to

keep the water in the soil for longer. A good layer of
mulch will also stop many weeds from growing in your
garden and help to keep the soil healthy by
encouraging mini-beasts and insects. It will also keep
your plants extra happy, by helping to keep the soil at
the same temperature. But be careful - don’t mulch
too close to the stem of your seedlings, as this can
cause them to rot and die.
And remember, small seedlings in smaller pots will
generally get used to their new environment more
quickly and grow faster in the long run, than bigger
seedlings which are only larger to start with and lots
more expensive to buy!
Habitat Gardening at Home and at
School!
In Australia, we love to spend time in our gardens!
But sometimes, our gardens can be bad for the
environment. They can use too much water, and
can sometimes have plants growing in them that
can become weeds.
By following these five basic rules, we can help our
environment, but at the same time, have a
beautiful garden that is easy to take care of.
 USE PLANTS THAT ARE NATIVE TO YOUR
SUBURB.
 USE PLANTS OF DIFFERENT HEIGHTS.
 PLANT A RANGE OF SPECIES THAT HAVE
FLOWERS AT DIFFERENT TIMES OF THE YEAR.
 MAKE SURE YOUR PETS STAY IN THEIR YARD
OR INSIDE, ESPECIALLY AT NIGHT!
 TRY NOT TO USE HARSH CHEMICALS.

Find Out More

Visit www.backyards4wildlife.com.au to find:

 a map that can show you what was

growing in your garden before our city,
Adelaide, was even here!
 a collection of photos of some plants that
are locally native to Adelaide.
 a list of where you can buy locally native
A new native planting with tree guards and mulch. plants for your school garden.