What's Happening in Box Hill South, VIC…

Garden lovers in Box Hill South and around the City of Whitehorse can learn more about local plants thanks to a new guide from the Council.

The guide has been developed to help residents recognise which plants are suitable for their gardens and will do well in the area’s soil and climate.

Called Indigenous Gardening in Whitehorse, the guide covers a range of native plants, planting advice and how to plant a more sustainable garden, as well as how to spot weeds.

Whitehorse Councillor Andrew Munroe said the information would help residents improve their gardens and potentially save money. He said:

“Because of the qualities that have made them naturally flourish here, plants native to Whitehorse are drought tolerant, often flower within the first season of being planted, and are frequently much cheaper than other species”.

Whitehorse has around 570 native species, but while it was once covered in woodlands, grass and wetlands, the local ecology has been eroded through development, and the council hopes encouraging residents to use more native plants in their gardens will improve biodiversity and provide habitats for wildlife.

The guide is already available online and printing services are being used to create a hard copy for residents who would rather have a guide on hand rather than having to read it on a screen.

More information can be found on the Whitehorse City Council website.