Learn how and why we're planting more trees and increasing biodiversity in our parks and our ocean, as well as on our beaches.
Our commitment to urban greening
High-density development and climate change are making our suburbs hotter and drier. Shade from trees is the best way to cool our area during summer. Trees also clean our air and provide habitat for wildlife.
Read our Tree Management Policy
Read our Tree Management Guidelines
In addition, trees add character to your neighbourhood, increase the value of your property and reduce your electricity bills.
Our tree canopy target
By 2050, we want to increase the tree canopy by 35% across the City of PAE. To hit this big goal, we’ll need to:
- Plant 3,000 new trees in our streets and reserves each year
- Encourage property owners to plant 500 new trees each year
We’ve already given hundreds of free 1m-tall trees to property owners across our hottest suburbs through our Get Shady program.
We're also helping property owners to maintain regulated or significant trees on their property, by providing a small grant to assist with maintenance. Financial reimbursement for tree maintenance can help cover pruning or pest treatments.
Tips for tree planting and care
The best time for you to plant trees is May to August, when the temperature is cooler and our first winter rains can help establish your trees. Visit the Tree and Verge services page for more information about how we care for trees in PAE.
Read our tree planting information sheet
Watch our tree planting tutorial video
Street Tree Planting
Our Street Tree Planting Program helps to:
- Create green leafy streets and provide some much-needed shade in summer
- Combat the impacts of climate change
- Create habitats for native animals
Tree planting normally occurs between the cooler, wetter months of May and September, with tree species selected based on soil type, geographical location, size of the nature strip and locality of services (overhead and underground).
We’ then water and fertilise newly planted trees for the first three years to help establish the tree and ensure it can sustain itself. You can help us out by providing extra water to the trees in your street, especially during the peak of summer. As a general guide, two x 10L buckets of water each week will greatly benefit the tree.
From May 2026 to September 2026 the following suburbs will be getting new trees (subject to change):
Osborne, Angle Park, Mansfield Park, Greenacres, Gilles Plains, Gillman, Semaphore, Semaphore South, Exeter, Northfield, Valley View and parts of North Haven.
The species that we’re planting on this section of Semaphore Road is Corymbia maculata, commonly known as a spotted gum. We’ve selected this species because it has the following benefits as a street tree:
- It’s a native species
- Once established, the tree is drought-tolerant and low-maintenance
- It has a fast growth rate, meaning that it will mature quickly to create a pleasant, shady environment
- It’s an evergreen tree with a slender trunk that generally reaches a height of between 10 to 15m at maturity
- It’s an attractive tree with a distinctive pattern of mottling on the trunk and pretty cream-coloured flowers
We’ll be planting trees in this area between 29 September 2025 and 3 October 2025. Please note that these dates may change depending on weather conditions and contractor availability. We’ll work hard to ensure that there’s as little disruption as possible to residents and business operators throughout the area during this period.
Once the planting period is over, we’ll water and fertilise the newly planted trees for the first three years, until they’re established and can sustain themselves.
Please contact our Customer Service Team on 8405 6600 or by emailing service@cityofpae.sa.gov.au
We’re committed to conserving biodiversity
Biodiversity supports life by keeping nature balanced. When our ecosystems are healthy, everything is kept in check – from the atmosphere and climate, to water, soil and nutrient cycles.
Our Biodiversity Management Plan
Our Biodiversity Management Plan pinpoints the important habitats across our coastline, sand dunes, mangroves, woodlands, parks and reserves. Working on the ground with local community groups, we protect and enhance the biodiversity of these areas. Every year, we report on the progress of each project so you’ll know whether we're on track.
Our Open Space Strategy
We manage open space across the City of PAE so that you can enjoy our parks, ovals and beaches while we all protect the environment. We limit development and improve biodiversity in some areas that need special protection, including:
- The tidal wetlands and mangroves at Gillman
- Folland Park at Enfield
- Mangrove Cove at Ethelton
- The coastal dune system from Semaphore to North Haven
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