Homeowners new to gardening packed into the Geographe Community Landcare Nursery on Saturday morning, braving the winter chill to attend a hands-on beginners gardening workshop focused on native plants and soil health.
More than 30 locals turned out to learn how to design and establish thriving gardens suited to Busselton’s unique coastal conditions. The workshop was delivered by Lisa Massey from GeoCatch alongside the Nursery’s horticulturalist Rod Cary.
Participants were introduced to the benefits of gardening with native plants—particularly in the Geographe Catchment, where sandy soils present ongoing challenges due to their low nutrient content and poor water retention.
“Your garden can be part of Busselton’s natural landscape—not separate from it,” said GeoCatch’s Lisa Massey, highlighting the importance of choosing plants that are naturally suited to local conditions.
The session covered the fundamentals of native garden design, including selecting local species, grouping plants by water needs, and creating layered gardens that support biodiversity while reducing maintenance.
“Healthy gardens and healthy waterways go hand-in-hand—what we plant at home and how we manage our gardens makes a difference to Geographe Bay,” Ms Massey said.
Rod Cary led the second part of the workshop, talking about how to care for native plants, products to use and correct planting techniques. He took participants into the nursery retail area where plant species are displayed according to soil type preferences.
The workshop forms part of GeoCatch’s Bay OK Gardens program, which encourages residents across the Geographe Catchment to adopt garden practices that reduce nutrient runoff into local waterways, wetlands, and ultimately Geographe Bay.
Participants left inspired and eager to put their new knowledge into practice.
“The main message I got was that we should be choosing Australian native species for all the benefits they have—waterwise and biodiversity,” participant Casper Hermans said. “As a result of this workshop, I’m going to plant more native species and look into how I can improve the soil for my plants.”
Ms Massey encouraged beginners to take a gradual approach to building their gardens. “Start small, observe what works, and let your garden grow with you,” she said.
By promoting native plants and sustainable gardening practices, GeoCatch aims to make gardening easier, more rewarding, and better for the environment—while helping local residents play a role in protecting one of Western Australia’s most significant coastal ecosystems.
The event was supported through GeoCatch’s Bay OK project, which is part of the Revitalising Geographe Waterways program supported by the State Government to improve water quality, waterway health and management of Geographe waterways.
Photos: Busselton locals at a GeoCatch workshop learning about how to establish thriving native gardens suited to Busselton’s unique coastal conditions.
