The Garden vs. Wallabies: A Battle for Survival
Wallaby
It all started well. We had finally finished the stairs and paths and the soil had been well mulched and we were ready for planting. The plants were arriving in dribs and drabs which was annoying but just how it goes when you’re trying to plant up a garden these days. We knew there had been some wallaby and pottaroo activity in the street, but we had a sturdy fence and were confident it would deter them.
This was a lovely small garden on a suburban street in inner Hobart, which I had designed for a client on a fairly challenging hillside slope. They had invested in beautiful stairs and sandstone paths and encouraged my vision of exotic and native planting and small trees. The terrace above the garden had a stunning view so it had all been designed for the plantings to be tall and lush enough to look substantial but not to deter from the view.
We got what plants we could in the ground and every time some new ones arrived we quickly planted them. Over the coming weeks they seemed to go backwards and we quickly realised the wallabies were having a lovely time tramping through them and eating all the new shoots and leaves. Particularly some plants - they were feasting on them as favourites.
We quickly made some wire and surrounds for the larger plants and used, natural cardboard protectors around others. Still they came, kicking off the protectors and eating things right down to the ground.
They loved the Ajugas, Pennisetums, all the Salvias. They left the Euphorbias, Cistus, Lomandras and the Buxus balls. Thank goodness there were some things they didn’t like!
They even had a good nibble at the rosemary! So we replanted with even more protection and chose a few different species to see if they were a bit safer. It wasn’t a great start to a client's beautiful garden they had entrusted me to create for them.
Finally we seem to have it under control so we planted a little more hoping we could get the hedges in and a few plants working really well and established. Finally, it seemed to be working! We reinforced some fencing areas to ensure the local wildlife wouldn’t get in anymore.
Over winter, everything slowed down growth wise as you would expect and we had a wet start to spring but still figured all would be ok. The wallabies surely would have plenty to eat in their native habitat with all this lovely rain.
As spring came and new growth popped up, there they were again bolder than ever. Seen hopping over high fences and leaping over gates that had previously kept them out. They ate a Vibernum tinus hedge that was just taking off,l right down to short spiky sad looking sticks. We could see their muddy paw prints deep in the soft wet soil. The whole street was talking about the wallabies and potoroos running amuck around the street.
These cute little hoppers may seem harmless from afar, but when it comes to a freshly planted garden, they turn into stealthy, hungry invaders and In just days (or hours), carefully tended newly planted beds are nibbled down to the bare stems or hard to the ground. We just needed Beatrix Potter to make a watercolour illustration and come up with a lovely story to make it all complete. It definitely had overtones of Mr MacGregors garden!
This required further action now!
So what measures can you take when wallabies are ruining all the garden plans. This wasn’t in the country - this was a city garden on the fringes of an inner city suburb in Hobart. It should have been relatively safe.
Understanding the Enemy
Wallabies and pottaroos, like their kangaroo cousins, are herbivores. They love fresh new vegetation, and a garden offers a buffet of tender leaves and shoots that are irresistible. They're also great jumpers, meaning that even fencing needs to be approached with care. Plus, they’re crepuscular, meaning they’re most active during the early morning and late evening, which explains why you’ll often come out and find the damage after sunrise.
We had decided we weren’t going to give up too easily. After some research, conversations with fellow gardeners and neighbours, and a little trial and error, we discovered a few solutions that can help protect a garden from these marsupial munchers.
A few ideas to Protect Your Garden from Wallabies
Here’s a few things to consider when you’re trying to outsmart the wallabies and safeguard the garden:
1. Install Fencing
The most effective solution is to fence off your garden. However, wallabies are skilled jumpers, so a standard fence won’t always cut it. Ideally, a wallaby-proof fence should be at least 1.8 meters high and of course this isn’t often a feasible option.
Make sure the bottom of the fence is dug into the ground by about 20-30 cm to prevent them from burrowing under. You might also consider an angled top section to make it harder for them to jump over.
2. Try Netting and Plant Protectors
If fencing seems too extreme, lightweight garden netting or stiffer wire around certain plants is an option. It can act as a temporary or seasonal solution. Build a small framework around beds or individual plants. Use the small wire that looks like chicken wire to create cylinders and tunnels for medium size trees and shrubs. We had good success with simple cardboard weather covers over smaller shrubs and perennials when newly planted (picture) but we needed to make them fairly well secure to stop them being kicked out of the way. This also means you’re not using plastic covers and these card ones are easy to compost. picture? Once plants become a little more established you can remove them to let the plants thrive. We found having individual surrounds definitely makes it harder for wallabies to access the plants, though it might not always be foolproof for really determined visitors.
3. Use Natural Deterrents
Wallabies are sensitive to certain smells and tastes. Some gardeners have success using natural repellents like garlic spray, hot pepper solutions, or even eucalyptus oil around the garden’s perimeter. While these can deter them for a while, they may need to be reapplied regularly, especially after rain. We had a wet spring so using these wasn’t really a useful option.
4. Plant Wallaby-Resistant Species
Another strategy is to incorporate plants that wallabies don’t typically enjoy. These could act as a “shield” around more desirable plants. Plants like lavender, rosemary, grevillea, euphorbias, native lomandras and many succulents tend to be less appealing to wallabies due to their strong scents or tough textures. Surrounding your more vulnerable or precious ‘must have’ plants with these can help to keep the wallabies at bay. We did find that there are very few plants they wouldn't try to nibble when they are really hungry and it’s drought conditions.
5. Scare Tactics
Wallabies, like most animals, can be startled by unfamiliar sounds or movements. Hanging wind chimes or using motion-activated sprinklers can provide a temporary solution, especially in areas where they are hesitant to explore. Though, over time, they may get used to these deterrents, so it's best to rotate and mix up your tactics.
6. Companion Planting
There are certain plants known to deter pests due to their strong scents. Planting marigolds, for instance, is said to help keep certain animals away. This may not always work with wallabies, but it's worth a shot!
Reflecting on the Journey
While we may have lost the first round to the wallabies, we seem to now be equipped with a range of tactics to help protect the garden going forward and we know that once we get enough growth on the plants they will be better protected just due to their size. It’s always at the establishment phase that they cause the most heartache.
The important lesson here is that gardening is often a learning process filled with unexpected challenges. Whether it’s a particularly dry season or unwanted animals like our wallabies, each hurdle can be overcome with a bit of patience and creativity.
We’ve come up with a solution to replant the garden with a mix range of plants - some of which should be more wallaby proof, covered nearly everything that they love to nibble to give it a bit of time to grow and to surround precious plants with some cheaper more common varieties that are better at being overlooked as not good eating. We now have a shut the gate sign and some wire along the top of the gate to deter them.
Cross fingers, moving forward we will see the garden thrive even though we have been set back by a season —this time with a few extra defenses in place. If you’re also facing some unexpected visitors in your garden, know that you’re not alone, and with the right tools, your garden can bounce back even stronger!
We’ll keep you posted on our success and show you just how the garden looks by the end of the season. We’re looking forward to lush plantings, bountiful flowers and lots of growth. But boy it certainly requires some patience!