As the crisp air of autumn settles in across Australia, it’s natural to reach for the rake and secateurs. Hedges are trimmed, plants are pruned, and fallen leaves are cleared. But if you want to protect native wildlife, from blue-tongue lizards to ringtail possums, leave some pockets of your garden untamed. That slightly overgrown corner or seed-laden bloom could become a vital food source or shelter for local creatures.

Let late bloomers like sunflowers, native thistles and grasses stand tall even after they’ve finished flowering. Birds such as rosellas and finches feast on the protein-rich seeds, while insects like native bees and butterflies seek shelter in the hollow stems and seed heads.

Instead of tidying everything away, consider stacking your prunings, twigs and leaves into cosy hideaways in garden corners. These brush piles can become safe havens for:

• Blue-tongue lizards seeking cover from predators
• Frogs and skinks that need moist, shaded areas
• Native insects that overwinter in leaf litter
• Even small marsupials like bandicoots, if you're lucky!

You can also craft simple shelters from dead wood, bark, dried leaves, and native grasses. These organic hideouts mimic natural bushland habitats and help replace what urban gardens often lack.

Autumn is also the ideal time to install insect hotels. Native solitary bees and beneficial bugs need nooks to overwinter and lay eggs, keeping your garden biodiverse and buzzing with life.

Don’t harvest everything. Instead, leave some native fruits and berries to ripen and fall. Possums, birds, and insects all benefit from the leftover bounty.

• Leave lilly pilly, muntries, and finger lime fruits on the tree.
• Plant natives like banksia and grevillea to offer nectar for birds and bees well into winter.

While they may seem convenient, petrol and electric leaf blowers are disastrous for wildlife. They destroy microhabitats, displace insects, and can harm or kill small animals like frogs, lizards, and even juvenile birds.