Nature Strip Planting
Planting your nature strip with the right species is a great way to reduce long-term maintenance requirements while supporting biodiversity.
What is a nature strip?
The nature strip is the area of Council land between your property, the footpath, and the street kerb.
Nature strips house underground services — such as gas, water, and power — and are important for traffic and pedestrian safety. They are also the designated space for your bins on collection day.
Nature strips can also provide beneficial natural spaces in urban environments. They can help mitigate flooding, keep the street and footpath cooler on hot days, and can be valuable locations for encouraging and supporting local biodiversity.
Planting on the nature strip
If you wish to plant on your nature strip, please follow these steps:
- Complete the Nature Strip Approval Form to find out if you meet the requirements to plant on your nature strip, or if you need to do further action:
Nature Strip Approval Form
- Once you have council's approval to plant on your nature strip, you will be emailed a PDF copy of your responses - please save this document as it acts as your Nature Strip Planting Permit.
- Make sure you follow our Nature Strip Planting Guidelines(PDF, 603KB).
- Avoid planting any species from the Nature strip "do not plant" list of environmental weeds(PDF, 73KB).
Maintaining the nature strip
It is your responsibility to maintain your nature strip – you must keep your nature strip clear, tidy, and safe for pedestrians and vehicles.
We also encourage you to water newly planted street trees while paying attention to any water restrictions.
Local biodiversity
We strongly recommend residents incorporate local, indigenous plant species in any gardening – on the nature strip, in the front yard, and in the back yard. Indigenous species support local ecosystems better than native and non-native alternatives and help to promote greater local biodiversity.
If you have our approval to plant on the nature strip, use the Recommended nature strip species list(PDF, 108KB) to ensure you are supporting local biodiversity.
Visit any of our local indigenous nurseries to find the best suited plants for your nature strip:
Nangak Tamboree La Trobe Indigenous Plant Nursery
La Trobe Ave, Trobe University, Bundoora Campus
Phone: 03 9479 1206
Email: wildlife@latrobe.edu.au
Victorian Indigenous Nurseries Co-Op (VINC)
Yarra Bend Road, Fairfield, 3078
Phone: 03 9482 1710
Email: retail@vinc.net.au
Weed management
There are some plant species to avoid planting as they are hazardous environmental weeds. They tend to overtake indigenous species and negatively impact local biodiversity.
The Nature strip "Do not plant list" of environmental weeds(PDF, 73KB) outlines species to avoid planting on your nature strip, as well as in your front or back yard.
Street trees
You cannot plant your own street trees on the nature strip - this is our function. However, you can request a new tree to be planted on your nature strip.
Find out more about street trees.
Things to know before you start planting
What happens if Council or a utility company need to access the services within my landscaped nature strip?
There are many essential services that are contained within the nature strip, including telephone, gas, water, sewerage, drainage and electricity. From time to time, utility companies require access to their infrastructure for upgrades or repairs. Please be aware that they are only obligated to reinstate the nature strip as grass, even if a Nature Strip Planting Permit has been obtained.
What would happen if a property with a Nature Strip Planting Permit is sold?
If the new owners are not a party to the permit, the nature strip must be returned to the original condition by the previous owner at their own cost. Otherwise, the new property owner may agree to maintain the planted nature strip by obtaining a Nature Strip Planting Permit through our webpage.
More information
For more information, please email darebinparks@darebin.vic.gov.au.