The sight of a nursery plant in flower can have you reaching too quickly for your wallet! Unfortunately many beautiful plants may not survive in your garden because they cannot adapt to the climate or soil you have placed them in.

Factors which determine a plant's local environment (or microclimate) include its exposure to the sun, wind, rain and salt spray. Some plants require full sun (i.e. no shading) to flower, others tolerate partial shade. Wind resistant plants may be selected as the "first line of defence" in local gardens, protecting less robust species. Coastal gardens may need to be designed predominantly around salt spray tolerant species.

Fortunately Australia's floral diversity means a variety of species can be selected for each microclimate.

 Soils around Warrnambool are quite varied. This reflects the differing bedrock's they have formed from as well as their varying ages. Properties of your soil which should influence selection of plants are:

(a) Soil acidity (ph)
Alkaline soils (ph greater than 7) generally form on coastal sands and limestone. Warrnambool, coastal areas west to Port Fairy, and areas south of Brucknell Creek to the east, have predominantly alkaline soils. Volcanic ash around Tower Hill also forms alkaline soils. Lime tolerant species suitable for these areas are indicated in the table "Australian Plants Suitable for Warrnambool & District". Soils derived from basalts occur roughly north of Warrnambool and the Prince's Highway to the east and west. Basalt, or "bluestone", is solidified lava and forms acid soils (ph less than 7)

(b) Soil Drainage
Sandy soils such as occur in Warrnambool do not retain water. They are described as "well drained". Clay soils, found in the district, have poor drainage. Some plants, adapted to well drained soils may get "wet feet" and die, in poorly drained soils during winter and spring. Plants adapted to wet or swampy environments may not cope with well drained soils.

(c) Soil Depth
 Shallow soils dry out more quickly than deeper soils. Higher parts of Warrnambool have very shallow soils - in some places bedrock shows through. These places also have sandy soils and so dry out very quickly in the warmer months. Plants requiring moist conditions, such as tree ferns, are not suited to these conditions. Desert plants from inland, such as Eremophilas, flourish.
 
If the number of factors to be considered seems daunting don't despair - your choice can be made simpler. Select species growing well in neighbours' gardens (one of the reasons we produced this booklet!). Alternatively choose indigenous species (marked in the table), these are certainly adapted to the local conditions.
 

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