Maroondah branches out with over 2500 new trees

Council’s Tree Maintenance team will be out and about until September planting over 2500 new trees in Maroondah.

A mix of indigenous and exotic species will be planted along nature strips and walking trails, and in safe Walk and Ride to School zones. Maroondah’s parks and reserves will also benefit from additional greening.

Trees and shrubs are planted annually throughout the city, either in place of plants that have reached their end of life or to build on Maroondah’s leafy environment.

The best time for trees to be planted is during the cooler months when trees are not exposed to heat stress and can establish quickly.

Street trees are specifically chosen for their site suitability, environmental benefits, resistance to drought and ease of maintenance.

Factors such as tree height, spread, form, growing space, powerlines, drains, neighbourhood character and traffic are also considered when selecting trees to be planted to protect and enhance the urban forest in Maroondah.

Mayor of Maroondah, Councillor Rob Steane, said Council’s tree planting program supports the sustainability of Maroondah’s local environment and encouraged residents to take part in local tree planting initiatives.

“Trees can provide a range of benefits, such as providing habitat for wildlife and biodiversity, providing shelter and shade, and supporting the sustainability of our local environment and community, so Council’s annual tree planting program helps ensure new generations of plants can continue to be part of Maroondah’s streetscapes, parks and reserves,” Cr Steane said.

“While Council maintains all new street trees planted, we also encourage residents to water any newly planted trees to ensure they remain as healthy as possible.

“Residents can also take part in National Tree Day at the end of July and other community-led planting sessions in Maroondah, which are listed on Council’s website, and subscribe to Council’s Nature News e-newsletter for updates about our local environment.”

In June, Council’s Tree Maintenance team will be planting more than 400 trees along the Walk to School routes of Croydon Primary School, Ainslie Parklands Primary School, Eastwood Primary School and Heathmont East Primary School.

These Walk to School routes have been identified as having lower canopy cover and tree populations, so the new additions will increase shade and canopy cover, ensuring the walk to school is safe and enjoyable for children and families. We encourage school children and families to keep an eye out for these new trees and watch as they grow over the coming months and years.

The school zone planting program will be rolled out along all participating primary schools’ Walk to School routes in Maroondah over the coming years and for all schools within Maroondah in the coming decade.

National Tree Day is held on the last Sunday of July each year and encourages people to get their hands dirty and give back to their community.

Council is once again supporting National Tre Day by co-hosting a free planting day at Eastfield Park in Croydon with Friends of Tarralla Creek and the First Friends of Dandenong Creek.

Come along on Sunday 30 July at 10am and help plant 4500 plants to enhance the biodiversity and environment in the area. The planting day will take place at the end of Taylors Road, Croydon and along the Tarralla Creek Trail.

If you are interested in supporting our local environment, there are a range of local environmental groups and environmental events in Maroondah that you can take part in.