
How to create a thriving verge garden
Many of us have vacant verges or small pockets of garden that are ripe for turning into productive green space. Greening these areas can be an important part of lowering urban temperatures, creating eco-systems for local wildlife and beautifying our streetscapes.
The tricky part is working out what to plant and when to transform these spaces into eco-friendly entrances to your home. It doesn't have to be back-breaking work if you follow a few simple guidelines.
We asked our plant master Claire Greenhill her top five tips for greening urban spaces and we've shared them with you below.
1. It's all in timing
Preparing your garden beds and planting in autumn is the best way to ensure that your green space will continue to thrive well after rain stops falling. This way your plants (which will often be tube stock - babies!) will get the benefit of some moderately warm days which supports root growth as well as the benefit of Winter rain.
If you can't get into action right away, planting in winter or spring is okay too. Just try to give your plants the longest possible time to establish themselves before they hit Perth summer. Avoiding irrigation on our verges is the ultimate aim and more time makes this possible!
2. Preparing your space
5. Choose your planting palette
Hardy, water-wise plants are optimal as generally, we don't want to be irrigating our verges - they should become fairly self-sufficient. Apace Nursery is based in North Fremantle and specialises in WA Natives for the Swan Coastal Plains. They have a great suburb finder where they list all the plants that are endemic to the area in Perth in which you live (the way that nature intended!)
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Photos by Rae Fallon