The Hobart City Council is handing out thousands of free plants to residents as part of a push to get more locals gardening on their nature strips.
The council has 4,000 plants to give away over the next month, offering up to 20 per household.
The initiative is part of the council’s move away from maintaining every nature strip in the city, a service that was costing ratepayers $394,000 a year until they stopped automatic mowing in 2023.
Two residents, Patrick Meagher and Helen Cushing, are promoting the scheme after turning their own street frontages into gardens.
Meagher said his nature strip has become a talking point with neighbours.
“It’s really not a lot of work and if you ask your neighbours to help they’ll probably give you a hand,” he said.
The program comes as more Hobart residents ditch traditional grass verges for diverse plantings that attract birds and insects.
Cushing, who helps other residents choose plants, said the gardens serve multiple purposes.
“Street gardens transform public space, bringing communities and nature together, creating beauty and giving birds, butterflies and other little critters places to feed and live,” she said.
Applications are open through the council website for four weeks or until the plants run out.
