It is very likely that you will get to know a few common native animals around your house - birds, lizards and possums will be near the top of the list.

There are a few reasons for this:

• The plants around your home are predominantly native to NSW so the animals feel at home.
• Extensive planting of native trees, shrubs, ground covers and grasses throughout the streetscape helps to create habitat suitable to many native animals.
• The Caddies Creek corridor and connecting open space corridors running through the site near your home form transport networks (particularly of a night) for native animals.

The vast majority will like living with you and will not do any harm – please try and resist feeding native animals as they have plenty to live off in the natural environment!

Pets and the environment
Domestic animals can have negative impacts on native wildlife if not managed appropriately. Ensuring that cats have collars with bells and are kept inside of a night is an important measure to ensure that native marsupials and birds can coexist happily in The New Rouse Hill environment.

For many of the common native animals you can expect to see in your backyard and for more information on living in sync with these animals please go to the Backyard Buddies website.

The landscape around your home will consist mainly of native plants which is a great start to creating a garden suitable to the local climate and local wildlife. As most people like to work on their garden it is important to take into account the ‘mini habitat’ you have around the house.

Generally it is beneficial to keep several plant layers in the garden - ground cover, shrubs and trees. Shrubs that have dense outer foliage with internal hiding spots are particularly beneficial to small native birdlife. Consistent groundcover and grasses at ground level also provide mini corridors for lizards and small animals.

It is also worth appreciating the value of well positioned trees around your house and in your street. Trees produce multiple benefits and will only increase in value as the number of 30 degree plus days increases with climate change impacts.  It is commonly recognised that trees can:

• Add to the economic value of a street and home through their aesthetic appeal
• Cool and clean the air – every medium sized tree is like installing a natural air conditioner
• Help stabilise the groundwater table and soil
• Provide valuable habitat for wildlife – particularly birdlife

The native plants around your home do not have a high water demand – in fact the majority of your plants should live happily off local rainfall patterns. When you do feel a need to water your plants or lawn we recommend that you regularly use a quick and easy to read moisture meter and do not overly saturate the soil profile. Regular saturation is poor for plant health and given the slightly salty nature of recycled water over application may also cause unwanted salt build up in your soil.

Sydney Water offer great advice on water requirements for your garden.

Your soil is an entire ecosystem in itself!  Within the soil live microorganisms and other beneficial bugs that help to break down organic matter and make nutrients available to plants. Soil also provides key trace elements and moisture holding ability to support plant life.

Soil can easily be damaged by urban living. Dumping materials and chemicals in soil that kill or reduce microorganisms will steadily degrade the life giving quality of the soil and also pollute the local water system.

We strongly recommend that you limit use of chemical fertilisers in preference for light organic fertilisers (see for example Seasol) – your predominant native plant landscape only requires limited fertiliser anyway.

Disposal of paints and chemicals should never be onto your garden or lawn (or stormwater drain).

Composting organic matter from your house and recycling through the soil in your garden is a great way to enrich your garden and promote healthy soil outcomes - more on this below.