Publish Date: 10 January 2025

Transforming your garden into a haven for native wildlife is a fulfilling way to support biodiversity while enjoying a thriving, natural landscape. New Zealand’s unique flora and fauna make it an ideal place to create a wildlife-friendly garden that benefits birds, insects, and other creatures. Follow these practical steps to establish a garden that attracts and sustains local wildlife.

1. Plant Native Species

Native plants are essential for a wildlife-friendly garden. They provide food, shelter, and nesting materials for native birds, insects, and reptiles. Popular choices include:

• Harakeke (Flax): Attracts native birds like tūī and bellbirds with its nectar.
• Kōwhai: A stunning tree that provides nectar for birds.
• Mānuka and Kānuka: Offer nectar for bees and are resilient additions to any garden.

Native plants are well-suited to New Zealand’s soil and climate, requiring less maintenance and water than exotic species.

2. Create Shelter and Habitat

Wildlife needs safe spaces to rest, breed, and hide from predators. Incorporate a variety of habitats into your garden:

• Shrubs and Bushes: Dense plant pots NZ provides excellent cover for birds and insects.
• Piles of Rocks or Logs: These create habitats for lizards and insects.
• Water Sources: Add a birdbath, pond, or shallow water dish to attract birds, frogs, and beneficial insects.

Ensure any water features are safe by adding rocks or sloping edges to allow small creatures to escape if they fall in.

3. Encourage Pollinators

Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and birds are vital for a healthy garden. To attract them:

• Plant flowering species that bloom throughout the year to provide a consistent nectar source.
• Avoid using pesticides or herbicides that can harm pollinators.
• Incorporate herbs like lavender, thyme, and borage, which are favourites of bees and butterflies.

4. Provide Food Sources

A wildlife-friendly garden offers diverse and year-round food options.

• Nectar-Rich Plants: Attract birds and bees with species like kōwhai and flax.
• Fruit and Berry Plants: Provide food for birds such as kererū and silvereyes.
• Flowering Plants: Support nectar-feeding insects.

Leave some areas untended or allow seed heads to develop on plants for birds to forage naturally.

5. Build Nesting Sites

Help wildlife settle in your garden by offering places to nest:

• Birdhouses: Install bird nesting boxes suited to native species.
• Dead Trees: Where safe, leave standing deadwood for birds and insects.
• Ground Covers: Encourage insects and lizards to shelter under mulch, low shrubs, or rocks.

6. Reduce Chemicals and Lawn Size

Minimise the use of chemicals, as they can harm wildlife and pollute waterways. Instead, use natural solutions such as compost, mulch, and organic pest control methods. Reducing the size of your lawn and replacing it with diverse planting zones can create more habitats for wildlife and reduce water usage.

7. Connect with Nature Corridors

If your garden adjoins a park, reserve, or other natural area, use plants and landscaping to connect it to these green spaces. This creates a wildlife corridor, helping animals and insects move between habitats.

Creating a wildlife-friendly garden in New Zealand is a rewarding way to support the country’s unique biodiversity. By planting native species, providing food and shelter, and reducing chemical use, you can cultivate a vibrant, living space that benefits both nature and your family.

For expert advice and a wide range of gardening supplies, visit Nursery and Garden Supplies NZ. Let’s work together to build gardens that nurture New Zealand’s wildlife.