Gardening Australia – May 2019

I

’velearnttobealazygardener.

Iembraceuntidiness.I’mwildingthe

edgesofmygarden,pilingupcuttings,

clippingsanddeadbranches.Imulch

overtheweedsthatbotherme,andhave

beendenselyplantingfloweringshrubs

andperennials.Onceestablished,they

needlittlemaintenance,keepweedsat

bay,andprovidefoodandshelterfor

myavianfriends.Asaconsequence,we

havelotsofbutterflies,loadsofbeneficial

insectsandfewpests,andchemical

spraysareathingofthepast.

Theymaynotlookverytidy,butthe

activityinandaroundmypilesofgarden

wasteisquiteremarkable.Fungi,worms,

insects,bugsandahostofinvertebrates

maketheirhomesthere,andprovide

foodforvisitingechidnas,bandicoots,

insect-eatingbirdsandreptiles.This

isawholeecosystem.

Oneveryinterestingreptilethat

sometimesturnsupisthebeautiful

three-toedskink.Burrowingatnight

throughthetopsoilandleaflittersearching

forwormsandotherinvertebrates,this

fairlycommonbutcrypticlizardgoes

aboutitsdailylifelargelyunseenby

gardeners.Turnoverarock,lookunder

apotplantordigthroughyourcompost,

however,andyoumaybesurprised

byalittlethree-toedskinkdartingout.

IfyouliveinSydneyoralongthecoast,

youmightcomeacrosstheireggsinthe

compostheap,butinthecoolerhighland

areas,theseverysameskinksactually

givebirthtolivebabies.

Thethree-toedskinkisoneofonly

threereptilesintheworldtobothlay PHOTOS

SHANE BLACK, ALAMY

GUESTS

G

A

R

D

EN

&PESTS

Don’tbinyourgarden

waste – allow it to pile

up to provide homes

for VIP visitors, says

LEONARD CRONIN

78 MAY 2019 GARDENING AUSTRALIA