Barriers a new weapon in fight to save street trees

Designed to deliver consistent deep watering, the self-watering barriers have been installed around two mature but distressed street trees on a property in Joondanna.

With the homeowner’s support, artificial turf around the base of the trees has also been removed and the gravel, cracker dust and black plastic weed mat was raked back to improve water infiltration. Mulch will also be applied to help retain moisture in the soil.

These combined measures aim to give the tree the best chance of survival.

The trees’ condition will be reviewed in winter, and if successful, the self-watering barriers could be rolled out to other sites across the City.

Tree retention is a priority for all local governments, especially as climate change impacts urban greenery.

With mature street tree mortality at 1.8 per cent within the City of Stirling and more than 815 trees lost in 2024, this trial is an important step in protecting our urban canopy, reinforcing our commitment to preserving mature trees for future generations.

If you are concerned about the health of a mature street tree on your property, please lodge a general enquiry on the City’s website by visiting www.stirling.wa.gov.au/enquiry

Once the City has reviewed the request, a tree inspector will then visit the site and make a recommendation on the best approach to save the tree.