Welcome to SLA’s Climate-Wise Garden! There are many reasons to consider the climate when designing your garden. With hot summers and cold, frosty winters, Canberra’s four seasons all affect plant health. While our conditions can be too extreme for some species, there are many other plants which not only tolerate our extremes but thrive in Canberra’s seasonal conditions.
If you’re new to gardening or unfamiliar with local or native plant species, it can be hard to know what to choose – our climate-wise garden at the Innovation Precinct in Whitlam is here to help.
You can visit the garden year-round. It is planted with species that grow well in Canberra’s climate, require minimal maintenance and watering, create healthy habitats for pollinators and local wildlife, and help keep your home comfortable during extreme temperatures.
Which plants to choose? Our climate-wise garden features plants of several types and sizes, which are suited to different growing conditions. Our plant species signage will tell you each plant’s size, type, frost tolerance and sunlight or shading needs, to help you choose the right species for the space and conditions at your home.
Many garden plants – including lawns – need high levels of maintenance and watering to maintain their health and appearance. Choosing climate-wise species is a great way to reduce your water usage, particularly during periods of scarcity. In our garden, you’ll find many species including native grasses or groundcovers which can thrive from rainfall alone or very minimal watering. These will help you to conserve water while still enjoying a healthy and attractive garden.
Climate Wise Garden Design Booklet
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Plant for pollinators Plants and flowers are an important source of food for pollinators and local wildlife, which are essential to support biodiversity and maintain a healthy ecosystem.
The signage in our garden provides information about when each plant flowers, as well as the types of pollinators it attracts, helping you plan a selection for your garden which will support bees, butterflies, insects and birds all year round.
Plants help cool your home and garden As the climate changes, Canberra is expected to experience more extreme weather events and more days over 35°C. Climate-wise planting can offer natural temperature control to help keep your home comfortable during extreme weather.
Deciduous climbers have lush foliage providing natural shading and cooling in summer, but lose their leaves in winter to allow warming sunlight in. Climbers can also be used to create ‘green walls’ to reduce heating effects from boundary fences.
Good ground coverage from plants also helps to minimise runoff during periods of heavy rainfall, keeping water in your garden to support plant growth and helping to reduce damage to your property from erosion.
Find out how we embed sustainability into all our work
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