Planting Merri Creek flora

As autumn proceeds into winter, it's time to think about some planting, with hopefully cooler days and some rainfall to support success. The focus of all the ecological restoration works along Merri Creek is to return locally indigenous flora to the ecosystem.  The Ecological Vegetation Classes which guide these selections are principally Plains Grassland, Shrubby Woodland and Grassy Woodland. There are sections, too, of wetlands, rocky features such as escarpments and knolls and the magnificent River redgums along Aitken Creek. The planning done by the MCMC ecological restoration team, uses carefully sourced material and the team undertakes the propagation of some plants – provenance is key!

To help you get started, Gardens for Wildlife partners with organisations to provide support to increase urban habitat for wildlife.  The Merri councils – Yarra, Darebin, Merri-bek and Hume - are all affiliate members. Darebin, Merri-bek and Yarra have developed their own guidebooks.

If space is tight at your place, you can look at planting on your nature strip. Check with your council for any guidelines they may have. An inspiring nature strip planting project is the Heart Garden. Focussing on South Melbourne and surrounds, this project brings biodiversity to the streets through the Melbourne Pollinator Corridor, connecting the Botanic Gardens with Westgate Park. Their website includes a great collection of resources and tips for new gardeners. 

Some plants are suited to pots on balconies and in courtyards. A few to choose from:

• Brachyscome multifida, Chrysocephalum apiculatum and Pelargonium australe are all pretty easy and work well with at least a few hours of sun. 
• In shadier spots, Viola hederacea or Dichondra repens will trail down nicely from a hanging basket or balustrade planter. 
• Many small shrubs like Indigofera australis, Correa glabra or Acacia acinacea can also be grown in pots, provided they get some pruning to keep them compact and bushy and regular watering through summer. 

To get yourself started, head to our website for a listing of Merri Creek plants, collated by MCMC, council planting guides for the catchment and a list of nurseries supplying locally indigenous plants. 

To join us planting on the Merri, our calendar lists all our events.

More to explore:

• Habitat heroes - top ten plants for boosting biodiversity along Merri Creek (MCMC);
• Melbourne Meadows – the plantings around Royal Park, Parkville, bringing indigenous grasslands back;
• Resources - Australian Native Plants Society (Australia);
• Grow me instead - for plant selection to reduce the spread of invasive species. Remember: native plants can be invasive too;
• Plant Propagation - Australian Native Plants Society (Australia) – for tips on growing your own;
• Our cities’ secret gardens: we connect with nature in neglected green spaces just as much as in parks;
• Habitat gardens for small spaces - Wyndham Council guide to gardening for balconies and courtyards;
• Habitat gardening for balconies and courtyards - a guide and checklist from Sustainable Gardening Australia.

Happy gardening!

       
Indigofera Australis, Rhagodia parabolica, Austrostipa elangatisma

       
Leptospermum lanigerum, Enchyleana tomentosa, Bursaria spinosa

                
Acacia acinacea, Arthropodium strictum, Chrysocephalum apiculatum

Our thanks to Colleen Miller for sharing these inspiring images from her Victorian flora website.