Before you plant

Here is a comprehensive list of all the things to consider and arrange before you plant.

Logistics

Are you permitted to plant in the place you want? You are allowed to plant on your own property, but your verge belongs to the City of Greater Geraldton. As long as you abide by their guidelines, you don’t need to ask for permission. There is more information here. We are very happy to offer advice on where you can put a tree on your verge: just ask us.

Which tree will be best in your chosen location? Are there power lines? Underground power or water mains? Important sight lines for traffic safety?

Materials

Where to get the tree? You can buy them from your local nursery – there are many to choose from. You may be eligible for a City of Geraldton Verge tree, but there is a waitlist. If you would like one of ours contact us, let us know where you plan to plant it and how you intend to care for it.

Mulch. You can buy it in bags, get free stuff from the tip (complete with unknown contents) or gather it from an appropriate source near you.

Check where the underground services run in your chosen spot – Dial Before You Dig, or ask for help from us or from CGG.

Make a moat and soak the ground the night before (around 30 litres per tree). It makes the ground much easier to dig.

Stakes (two to three depending on trees and site) up to 2 meters long, preferably 40mm wide.

Ties for the trees: cut up old tyre tubes, or use ribbons of shade cloth. They need to be at least 150cm long.

Digging implements – personal preference but mattock and shovel is useful. Mattock allows careful pot holing and shovel to get out the spoil. Dig carefully (in case the map of what is underground was incomplete or inaccurate).

Sheets to lay around the site to put the spoil on: it makes it easier to put the soil back in the hole around your new tree.

Fertiliser from your local nursery. Follow the instructions on the packet, and be careful to choose Native fertiliser for native trees.

Water retaining crystals (Richgro is only one of several equivalent brands) from your local nursery.

Post Thumper to hammer in stakes.

Water containers to water in tree if no hose available. Using three 10 litre containers is easier on your back than one enormous barrel. Add seasol to one of them according to the instructions.

Optional – extra bag of potting mix in case you run out of filler spoil.