Verge Gardens

Before you begin

Before starting any verge landscaping works, make sure you:

• read and understand the Verge Landscaping and Maintenance Policy & Guidelines
• complete and submit the Authorisation to Landscape a Verge application form below, with all required supporting documents.

Important:

Do not begin verge landscaping works until you have received formal authorisation from Council. All works must follow any conditions outlined in the approval.

Once planting is complete, it is the ongoing responsibility of the individual or group to maintain the verge garden in a safe and tidy condition. This includes regular watering, mowing and weeding, managing pests and diseases, pruning, replacing plants or materials when needed. You must also make sure the verge remains free of trip hazards for pedestrians.

 Apply

If you want to landscape the verge in front of your property, you can apply online by completing the form below:

Apply to Landscape a Verge 

If you are unable to complete the application online, you can request a PDF version of the form. Please contact the Council’s Works Coordinator, Parks & Gardens on 08 8360 9008.

Landscaping multiple verges or non-adjacent sites

If you want to landscape:

• more than one verge, or
• an area not directly adjacent to your property (for example, a verge at the end of a dead-end road).

You must also complete the Authorisation to Landscape a Verge Notification & Consent Form 

Please upload or attach this form when submitting your application.

Important: Insurance is required for groups, multiple verges, or sites not adjacent to your property

See the Insurance section below for more information.

Insurance 

If you are landscaping the verge directly in front of your property, Council does not require you to hold public liability insurance. However, you may wish to extend your home insurance to cover the verge garden.

If you are landscaping:

• multiple verges, or
• a verge not directly adjacent to your property.

you must provide proof of public liability insurance with a minimum coverage of $20 million per claim.

If you are part of an incorporated group (such as a residents’ association), the group’s insurance must cover all verge landscaping activities.

Note: If someone is injured or experiences damage or loss related to your verge garden, you will not be covered by Council’s insurance.

Insurance options for community groups

Small community groups with limited funds may want to consider the following options:

• become an incorporated association under the Associations Incorporation Act 1985 (SA) and manage your own insurance
• explore affordable insurance options through Local Community Insurance Services, Garden Clubs Australia or the Department for Environment and Water (via SAicorp)
• seek auspicing from an existing association or agency, such as a local residents’ group, to be covered under their policy
• form an umbrella group with similar organisations to take out shared insurance, which may reduce costs.

The Council does not offer individual design or horticultural advice. However, the following resources are recommended for guidance:

• Botanic Gardens of South Australia Plant Selector
• Green Adelaide Gardening Guide

Verge design

When designing your verge, you must consider any existing trees. Allow a minimum of 1.5 square metres of permeable and/or unplanted space around the tree, or enough room to protect its structural root zone.

Lawn or Council-approved materials—such as paving, compacted quartzite or organic mulch—may be used in a verge to provide a stable surface for bin placement on collection days.

However, a landscaped verge must not:

• result in a net increase of impermeable surface
• exceed 20% hard surface coverage overall.

Plant selection

Council encourages the use of plants that are:

• non-invasive
• drought tolerant
• long-lived
• low maintenance
• hardy and able to withstand occasional foot traffic.

Where possible, choose local native species. These plants are well adapted to the Adelaide climate and provide important food and habitat for birds and other wildlife.

Find out more

For information about local native species and their maintenance requirements, download: Common Local Native Species of the Adelaide Plains Brochure

Your local nursery can also assist with species selection.

A verge (or nature strip) is the area of land located at the front of your property, situated between the footpath and the roadside kerb.

Verges play a crucial role in accommodating essential public services such as water, electricity, sewer, telecommunications, and gas, and they also provide space for street trees. The size of verges can vary depending on the street, and they are typically covered with a compacted rubble material.

The Council owns the land between the front property boundary and the road, including the verges. The Council is responsible for footpath installation and maintenance, managing street trees and ensuring that verges are maintained in a safe and tidy condition.

Individuals or groups wanting to landscape a verge must:

• read and understand the Verge Landscaping and Maintenance Policy & Guidelines
• complete the Authorisation to Landscape a Verge Application Form
• receive the Council’s approval prior to starting any work.

Yes. If you are interested in landscaping multiple verges or a location that isn’t directly adjacent your property (e.g., a verge at a dead end road), you may submit an application for the Council’s consideration.

In addition to the application, you must complete a Notification and Consent Form to confirm that you have obtained consent from the adjoining property owners for the proposed verge landscaping.

To proceed, please click on the "Apply to Landscape a Verge" dropdown on this page and download and complete the Authorisation to Landscape a Verge in Another Location Consent Form and upload or attach it to your online Authorisation to Landscape a Verge Application. 

For tenants

If you are renting and wish to landscape the verge in front of your property, you are also required to complete a Notification and Consent Form confirming that you have received approval from your landlord.

If the Authorisation Holder is unable or unwilling to maintain the landscaped verge, the Council may consider a request from another individual or group (e.g., a neighbour or a Residents' Association) to take over responsibility for its maintenance. In such cases, a new Authorisation must be entered into with the individual or group assuming responsibility.

For more information, contact the Council’s Works Coordinator, Parks & Gardens on 08 8360 9008.

No, residents are not allowed to plant street trees. Street trees are the responsibility of the Council.

If there is no tree in your verge and you would like to request one to be planted, please contact the Council’s Works Coordinator, Tree Services on 8360 9002.

If a street tree can be planted, it will be planted in accordance with the Council’s Tree Strategy 2022 – 2027

No, the Council does not allow vegetables, herbs or fruit trees to be planted or maintained in verge gardens for food cultivation.  

If residents are interested in food cultivation in public spaces, contact: Linde Community Garden

No, artificial lawn or turf is not permitted—this applies to both new applications and retrospective approvals for previously unauthorised works. If the Council identifies an unauthorised verge with artificial lawn, a written request will be issued requiring the removal of the artificial lawn.

Please note that artificial lawn is not permitted in verges for the following reasons:

• It negatively impacts soil health by preventing natural processes
• It retains heat and can potentially cause burns to both animals and humans on very hot days
• It contributes to the urban heat island effect by absorbing sunlight and releasing built-up heat later
• It reduces water infiltration, limiting water available to street trees and increasing stormwater runoff
• It is usually made from non-recyclable materials, contributing to long-term environmental waste.

No, built structures (e.g., supporting frames, raised garden beds, retaining walls) and garden ornaments (e.g., bird baths, planter boxes, pots) are not allowed to be placed on the verge.

Landscaping materials must be flush with the adjacent footpath and kerb and not mounded higher.

The Council uses leaf blowers to move leaf litter away from property boundaries, footpaths, verges and from underneath parked vehicles to the road, where it can be collected by a street sweeper.

Please note that once a verge is landscaped:

• the Council will avoid using leaf blowers on the verge to prevent damage to vegetation and to avoid the loss or contamination of mulch
• it is the responsibility of Authorisation Holder to ensure leaf litter and other organic material in the verge is not swept, blown, hosed or left on footpath, gutter or street. Please rake or sweep garden waste and use it as mulch, compost it or place it in your green organics bin.

The Council regularly sprays weeds on footpaths and compacted rubble verges.

If you do not want to have your footpath or verge sprayed, you can ask for your address to be added to the Council's No Weed Spray Register by contacting the Council’s Works Coordinator, Park & Gardens on 08 8360 9008.

Please note:

• Verges that have been landscaped by residents will not be sprayed by the Council.
• Once landscaped, it becomes the resident’s responsibility to maintain the verge.