Gardens for Wildlife

Create a Garden That Welcomes Wildlife

A Regent Parrot perches on a Hakea Plant

Why it matters

At Moonlit Sanctuary we believe caring for native wildlife begins at home. By choosing the right plants and designing thoughtful garden spaces, you can provide food, shelter and water for our native animals. Your backyard (or balcony) can become part of a broader wildlife corridor that supports birds, small mammals, and insects alike.

Here are some easy steps to get started: –

1. Take stock of what you already have

Before starting a major re-do, take a moment to look around:

  • Which plants are already attracting birds, insects or native mammals?
  • Are there spots that remain bare or under-used by wildlife?
  • Is there water accessible to animals?

Rather than ripping everything out, consider building on what’s already there. Add missing elements gradually which keeps the garden manageable and means the wildlife can adapt naturally.

2. Choose native plants

Native plants are the unsung heroes of wildlife gardens; they’re adapted to local conditions and are well suited to the fauna that evolved alongside them. Native plants: –

  • Provide the correct types of nectar, berries, seeds and shelter for native birds and mammals.
  • Are less likely to become weeds or require heavy fertiliser or care.
  • Help create continuity with surrounding bushland.

If you live near our region in Pearcedale or the Mornington Peninsula, choosing local indigenous species helps even more. If they’re not available, broader native plants are still far better than exotics or hybrids.

3. Choose for variety

Wildlife is hungry year-round, not just when the big blooms happen.

To keep birds and mammals visiting:

  • Mix plants that flower, fruit, seed or provide insects throughout the seasons. Examples: shrubs that attract insects (eg wattles/ Acacias), berry-producing bushes (eg Lilly Pilly), grasses and tussocks for seed and shelter (eg, kangaroo grass).
  • Provide different resources: insects for insectivorous birds, nectar for honeyeaters, and seeds for finches.

4. Plan your habitat layers

A garden with layers is a richer habitat than one that’s just lawn and a handful of trees.

Consider:

  • Ground-covers or grasses (for small mammals and forage)
  • Small shrubs (for hiding and nesting)
  • Tall shrubs or small trees (for food and higher nesting sites)
  • If space allows: a couple of feature trees for roosting or lookout perches

Replace portions of lawn with native grasses or garden beds—this reduces maintenance and adds valuable food/shelter zones for birds and mammals. And don’t forget water such as a shallow bird bath, a hollow rock bowl or a small pond.

5. Prepare your garden for success

Native plants often thrive in poorer soils and don’t always appreciate heavy fertilisers or high-phosphorus mixes.

We recommend:

  • Using low-phosphorus fertilizers (if any) and generous organic mulches
  • Avoiding over-watering
  • Using mulch to conserve moisture, feed the soil and suppress weeds

6. Ongoing care – keeping it wildlife-friendly

Maintaining the garden with wildlife in mind means:

  • Removing weeds and invasive plants that reduce habitat quality
  • Leaving fallen leaves, seed heads and cuttings where safe so they provide food and habitat for insects, which in turn feed birds and small mammals
  • Minimising chemicals and sprays. Native birds and marsupials help keep insect numbers in check naturally
  • Keeping an eye on what species are using your garden. You may be surprised at what turns up!
An echidna crosses a small shallow creek over small rocks and pebbles.
Backyard Habitat Projects
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