Tree Planting & Permits

What We Do

Planting Done Right For Boroondara

Planting a tree well is more than digging a hole. The wrong species in the wrong spot causes years of problems: roots into drains, branches into powerlines, a canopy that outgrows the site, or a tree that simply won't thrive in Melbourne's changing climate. Getting it right the first time saves money and heartache down the track.

We plant species drawn from the City of Boroondara's own suitable-species guidance, chosen for the site, the soil and the space available. Whether you're replacing a tree you've had removed, screening a boundary, or adding shade and value to your garden, we'll recommend species that suit the position and meet council's expectations. We quote each tree individually, so you know exactly what you're paying for.

Sizing

Small, Medium and Large: How Boroondara Categorises Trees

Boroondara groups suitable planting species into three size classes by mature height. It's a useful framework for choosing a tree that fits your space, and for matching a replacement to what council expects. The examples below are drawn from council's published suitable-species list. It isn't the full list, so we'll always confirm the best fit for your specific site.

Council recommends planting at least 1 to 2 metres from boundaries, easements, services and structures such as paving, buildings, driveways, fences and retaining walls. We factor this in when we advise on species and position, so your tree has room to grow without becoming a future problem.

Replacement Planting

Meeting Council Replacement Requirements

When Boroondara grants a permit to remove a protected tree, it almost always requires a replacement tree to be planted as a condition of that permit. Get the replacement wrong, wrong species, wrong size, wrong position, or don't plant it at all, and you can be in breach of your permit. A replanted tree is itself protected and can't later be removed without a further permit.

If you've had a tree removed and your permit requires a replacement, we'll plant one that satisfies the condition: a council-suitable species of the appropriate size, in a compliant position. If you're not sure what your permit requires, we can help you read it and get it right.

Permits

Help With Council Permits

Boroondara's tree rules are among the stricter in Melbourne, and the paperwork puts a lot of people off. We can take that off your plate. We help homeowners understand whether a permit is needed, prepare and lodge tree removal and works permit applications, and liaise with council through the process.

To be clear about what this is: we provide assistance and liaison, not a guaranteed outcome. Council makes the final decision on every application, and we can't promise approval. What we can do is give you an honest read on your chances, make sure the application is complete and correctly prepared, and deal with council on your behalf so you're not navigating it alone.

A permit is generally needed to remove or heavily prune a canopy tree (trunk circumference of 110cm or more, measured at 1.4m) or a significant tree, and properties within an overlay (SLO, ESO or VPO, common near the Yarra in Kew, Hawthorn and Balwyn North) have further planning controls. We'll help you work out which apply to you.

Every Job Includes

What You Get

Areas We Service

Where We Plant

We plant and handle permits across Boroondara and the surrounding councils: Hawthorn, Kew, Camberwell, Canterbury, Balwyn, Surrey Hills, Glen Iris and the wider leafy east.