Adopt a Verge 2025-26

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About the Program

Adopt a Verge Program

Welcome to the Adopt a Verge program, a collaborative initiative with the Town of Victoria Park and the Water Corporation that aims to transform street verge areas into beautiful native gardens. By joining forces with your neighbours, you can enjoy numerous benefits, such as greener streets, enhanced local biodiversity, and the creation of biodiversity corridors for fauna movement.

As an incentive, residents who landscape their verges using Waterwise practices may qualify for a rebate of $500 per property.

The main goals of the Adopt a Verge program are:

1. Reduced water usage

2. Increased biodiversity

3. Aesthetically pleasing verges 

 

For more information see Street Verge Guidelines and Sample plans

Sketch Template

Adopt a Verge criteria for verge landscaping

Earthworks

  • Consider lowering soil levels around the edges or the entire verge.
  • Topdressing and mulching can gradually elevate surface levels, so be mindful of finished heights exceeding kerb lines, footpaths, and crossovers.
  • Properly manage excess soil and existing turf removal and disposal.
  • Exercise caution when excavating around existing verge trees to prevent root damage, which can negatively impact their health.
  • Avoid damaging any existing services within the verge.

Weed control

  • Remove or spray out existing turf and weeds well before planting to prevent reinfestation and minimize maintenance requirements.

Planting

  • Optimal planting time for Waterwise verges is between April and October.
  • Prioritize the use of Waterwise plants from the Town's Your Street Verge – Sustainable Landscaping Guide or the Water Corporation's website. Emphasize Waterwise Western Australian native plants to create an appealing streetscape and provide habitat for local fauna.
  • Avoid using turf grass as a verge treatment due to its high water consumption.

Watering

  • Only use Waterwise irrigation methods, including trickle or drip systems, sub-surface irrigation, or MP rotator nozzles instead of regular pop-up sprinkler nozzles.
  • Shrub sprays, micro-sprays, and regular pop-up sprinkler nozzles are not Waterwise and are susceptible to wind-drift.
  • In the absence of irrigation, hand watering may be necessary, especially during the first summer.

Mulching

  • Apply coarse particle bark chip or shredded tree prunings to a depth of 50-100mm and ensure it remains suitably retained on the verge.
  • Avoid using fine particle mulch, as it tends to retain water and can block road drainage systems.
  • Consider using mulchnet.com as a source of affordable shredded tree prunings.

Verge trees

  • You can request a street tree to be planted on your verge. The Town will supply, plant, and maintain it for three years at no charge. A selection of tree species will be offered prior to planting, to enhance your verge garden, provide shade and create habitat for fauna.
  • Maintain consistent soil levels around existing verge trees to avoid harming their root systems. Avoid piling mulch against tree trunks.
  • The Town may plant additional verge trees at any stage.
  • Contractors undertaking regular tree maintenance require machinery access across the verge. All care will be taken, but occasionally some damage may occur.