The lovely rain we’ve had is perfect timing for Eurobodalla Council’s next plant swap. Garden soil should be nice and soft and ideal for weeding, and residents can bring those weeds to the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens next Friday and leave with some free native plants.
Council’s natural resources supervisor Courtney Fink says plants swaps are all about prevention rather than cure.
“Home owners are often unaware of the threat posed by environmental weeds like African daisy, agapanthus and cassia growing in their gardens.
“Weeds spread really quickly through the dispersal of seeds and berries, and once outside the garden fence they smother and out-compete native plant species and reduce food sources and habitat available for native animals.
“When weeds spread into bushland reserves they become time consuming and costly to control. Plant swaps encourage home gardeners to get to the weeds before they have a chance to spread.
“It’s easy to participate. Just remove environmental weeds from your home garden, pop them in a bag and bring them to our stall at the Botanic Gardens. In exchange, we’ll give you a Bush Friendly Garden Pack that includes up to four free native plants.
“The replacement plants are grown in local conditions, so once they get in the ground they generally grow really easily, which is good news for green and brown thumbs.”
Bring your environmental weeds to the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens on Friday 2 June between 1.30-3.30pm to swap for free native plants.
If you can’t make the June event, don’t despair. The plant swaps will be held on the first Friday of every month until September, 1.30-3.30pmat the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens.
Council’s environment team will also be on deck at the Village Centre in Batemans Bay on Saturday 3 June to celebrate World Environment Day. Swing by their new trailer to hear about their work and how you can get involved.
Above: Exchange environmental weeds from your garden for bush-friendly native plants, just like those in Elijah Downes’ garden, at the Eurobodalla Regional Botanic Gardens on Friday 2 June between 1.30pm and 3.30pm.
Media Release
