What to grow....

[Jayburd]

What to grow...
I want to put more plants in the aviary, because lets face it mine is pretty barren.
I need something that will grow well in Canberra weather, and can tolerate a lot of sand.
Any suggestions? I'm really not much of a horticulturist!
Something perhaps finches would nest in. You can see in my signature what I keep...
Thanks in advance
J

[Brooksy]

Hi Jayburd
If you have sandy soil I'd go some seeding grasses, any of the (poa) variety (like the ones you get on the coast) or similar will do well if you can get them where you are. They are fairly hardy and don't need much water once there settled in, & the birds like the seeds to.
I have found the birds don't seem to destroy them either like the green panic.
May be a little clumping bamboo too for good measure.

[jusdeb]

If you like shrubby plants in pots go for a Sallow Wattle . Nice plants and grows fast .

[Jayburd]

Thanks guys
Hmm brooksy not sure about it ring sandy "soil" so much as pure sad
I would put some soil in with the plant though.
Off to google thanks deb!

[mattymeischke]

Grasses are great for feed, but for cover choose some local native shrubs which are not too tall.

The natives are generally more tolerant of poor sandy soils than the introduced species.
Lots of them have good dense cover and the flowers and fruit attract insects for the birds.
There are many Correa, Callistemon, Dryandra and Grevillea species that do well in our cold climate; get down to Pialligo one day and cruise the nurseries.

I like the flowering groundcovers too, as something low to attract insects and provide a break in the grass and some interest for the birds.
In this category, Myoporum spp. and some prostrate Grevilleas do well around here.

[Jayburd]

Thanks Matt. I'm going to try and get to both pialligo and yarralumla next week.
Just got word I can have a big grassy thing from grandmas place too

[Mickp]

there might be a variety of saltbush that you could use also.

[Jayburd]

Aren't saltbushes the ones tht stink?

[Buzzard-1]

No

[mattymeischke]

I had always thought that saltbush were not frost-tolerant, but thankfully I checked.
Evidently Old Man Saltbush (Atriplex nummularia) is the most frost tolerant of the Australian saltbushes (http://www.agric.wa.gov.au/objtwr/impor ... ltbush.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;).
I also grows to about 2m, less on poor soils, so is a perfect size for an aviary.