Help us grow a greener Nillumbik by requesting a tree for your nature strip.
This project aims to expand the urban tree canopy, which plays a crucial role in reducing heat, improving air quality, and enhancing the overall well-being of the community.
Trees provide shade, reduce carbon emissions, and contribute to biodiversity, making our neighbourhoods more liveable and sustainable.
By participating, you can help us create cooler, greener streets while fostering a sense of community pride and environmental stewardship.
This initiative is a vital step toward building a healthier and more resilient Nillumbik for future generations.
The trees will be planted by Council's tree planting contractor and will be maintained for two years after planting. This includes watering, mulching, pruning and checking for pests and diseases. Residents may give the plant a bucket of water during drier periods if they wish to further ensure the health and success of the trees.
The species of tree selected for planting, and assessment of the suitability of the site will depend on:
- Existing vegetation
- Presence of power lines
- Size of the nature strip
- Proximity to intersections
- Neighbourhood character
Caring for your street tree
Maintaining soil moisture is important to a tree’s success. During dry weather conditions a tree could require 2-6 deep waterings per month. We have a watering program for the first two years of each planted tree - this involves fortnightly watering during the summer and monthly or as required during the remainder of the year.
Residents can assist by:
- Watering your tree, particularly during the warmer and dry weather conditions
- Hand removing grass and weeds from the base of the tree. This may help the tree to establish by reducing competition for water and nutrients. Our establishment program includes weeding and mulching for the first two years, but residents can assist with additional weeding if desired
- Not cutting the grass around the base of the tree with a lawn mower or weed trimmer closer than 150mm to the trunk of the tree. Young, thin-barked trees are particularly vulnerable to weed trimmer and lawn mower injury. Damage to the trunk can weaken the tree structure over time and introduce infection, reducing the trees life expectancy. Instead, this area should be mulched, which Council will top up in the first two years.
Frequently asked questions
What type of tree will be planted?
The type of tree planted will be determined by a number of considerations including the limitations of the site, species availability and neighbourhood character.
All street trees planted are either native or indigenous species.
What if I want a different tree?
Because our street tree program is implemented on a large scale, we order trees from nurseries well in advance, which limits flexibility to switch tree types at the time of planting.
Our selection process focuses on finding the most suitable tree for each location.
We aim to choose trees that can thrive in roadside environments and coexist well with surrounding infrastructure.
I don’t want a tree, can I remove it?
Street trees provide valuable environmental, economic, and community benefits, making them essential to enhancing our neighbourhoods.
Our goal is to give every tree the opportunity to grow and thrive as planned.
If you’d like to discuss a different placement on your nature strip or have concerns about a newly planted tree, please reach out to our Parks and Open Space team at nillumbik@nillumbik.vic.gov.au or 9433 3111.
Do I need to water my tree?
Keeping the soil moist is crucial for a young tree’s health.
During dry spells, deep watering 2-6 times per month may be needed.
Our program includes a regular watering schedule for the first two years after planting, with fortnightly watering in summer and monthly (or as needed) in other seasons.
Residents can also help by giving the tree additional water during warmer, drier periods.
In which suburbs across the Shire will the trees be planted?
We plant street trees in the following urban suburbs:
- Diamond Creek
- Eltham
- Eltham North
- Greensborough
- Hurstbridge (urban area only)
- Plenty
- Research
- Wattle Glen (urban area only)