INDIGENOUS
GARDENING
Why
indigenous?
Because we have an obligation and a responsibility
to all our people to conserve our natural heritage; and indigenous plants, on
average, provide more food, resting, and nesting sites for our butterflies, birds, mammals
and other animal life, than exotic plants.
Southbroom homeowners
kick-off with a magnificent indigenous landscape and, if your have a new garden,
you are fortunate in that you can begin planting indigenous from the
start. Never plant exotics in haste, just to fill a spot or because a wide
variety is readily available or free from a neighbour or friend.
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Clivia
Miniata
Photograph: Mike Skellern |
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Waiting
and searching for the right indigenous plants will give you and your garden
creatures much more pleasure in the long run.
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Pride-of-de Kaap (Bauhenia galpinii)
Hedge on Fairway Rd |
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It is not very easy changing an
existing garden from exotic into indigenous, and not wise to try and do it all
in one season. Although to a lesser extent than indigenous, exotic plants
will support some creatures, so rather reform your garden in stages. If
you have inherited many exotic trees or planted them long ago through ignorance,
remove some as soon as possible, to allow the new indigenous ones light and
space. However, don't rush out and tear all these relics down. An
empty space is even less likely than exotics to attract birds!
To bring nature
back to your garden you have to be patient.
