VERGE

 

The verge is the area between the road, your property and the property next door. The verge is Crown Land under the care, control and management of the Council.

Residents are permitted to landscape their verge, and this may include treatments such as turf, plants and/or a portion of paving.

Verge landscaping

The City of Vincent encourages residents to plant their verges with waterwise native gardens. This not only saves water and improves the aesthetics of the streetscapes but also provide food and habitat for wildlife.

For more information, you can read our Waterwise Verges Guide or our Verge Policy.

Verge maintenance

As with most councils, maintenance of the verge is the responsibility of the adjacent landowner or occupier. Vincent encourages residents to maintain the verge.

The City of Vincent can assist in verge maintenance in the following instances:

• Where the verge is on a main road, periodical mowing will be undertaken by Vincent to ensure no visibility issues are present.
• Where the owner/occupier is a pension card holder (age or disability), Vincent will undertake mowing of the verge a maximum of three times per year.
• Where the owner/occupier applies for the Adopt a Verge Program, Vincent will assist in converting turfed/weedy verges into waterwise native gardens.

To request a verge maintenance assistance, contact our Parks team on mail@vincent.wa.gov.au or 9273 6000.

Useful resources

Verge treatments, plantings and beautification policy

Waterwise verges 

The verge is the area between the road, your property and the property next door. Verges are important green spaces within our community that assist with urban cooling whilst creating biodiversity corridors within our streetscapes.

The City of Vincent encourages residents to undertake soft landscaping of verges, including waterwise plants and mulch.

In order to save water in our drying climate, we strongly encourage the establishment of waterwise unirrigated verges. When designed, installed and well maintained, waterwise verge gardens can:

• Save water in the garden
• Create an appealing greenspace for our streets
• Require little maintenance, with occasional weeding, pruning, mulching and hand watering.
• Create a cooling effect and counteract the heat island effects in summer
• Provide a habitat for local wildlife and promote biodiversity

We've put together this guide to help you create your own low maintenance waterwise verge.

Remove Lawn and Weeds

Dig out the existing verge soil and any grass roots so that the verge ground level is at least 7.5cm below surrounding kerbs and paths.  This will allow for mulch on top and ensure finished levels are level with adjoining paths or kerbs. If the soil on your verge is very sandy or compacted, consider digging it to a greater depth to allow for the addition of soil conditioners.

Prepare the Soil

Good soil is the foundation of a healthy waterwise garden, the healthier your soil the more drought resistant your plants will be.

If using a range of exotic and native plants or if your verge will need be irrigated, we encourage residents to incorporate soil conditioners like composted organic matter and clay, such as Bentonite, within the top 30cm of soil to improve moisture and nutrient holding capacity. 

Perth’s sandy soils can become water repellent in dry weather. Applying a good quality soil wetting agent will increase ‘wettability’, allowing water to penetrate deep into the root zone. This is particularly important during planting, to help your plants establish and grow deep roots.

When buying soil conditioner or wetting agents, select products with the Waterwise and Smart Approved WaterMark symbols and refer to the manufacturer’s instructions for application rates. For more information view the Water Corporations water saving products search.

Choose Waterwise Plants

Consider the existing conditions of your verge, such as soil type and sun exposure, and how they may influence your choice of plants.

Unirrigated dryland, native plants are the most appropriate for verge gardens as when established, they can survive our hot dry summers with little to no supplementary watering. These are typically local native plant species which are drought tolerant and common to your local area.

To find plants suitable for your local area and garden type view the Water Corporations waterwise plant directory.

Apply Mulch

When applying mulch, spread a 5-10cm thick even layer of course mulch, keeping clear from the stem of plants. Mulching your garden will help to improve your soil, reduce plant stress and evaporation, suppress weed growth and greatly improve the appearance of your garden.

The finished mulch must be level with adjoining kerbs and footpath. This will ensure the mulch stays in place and does not spread or flow onto footpaths or into stormwater systems.

Irrigation

Ideally your waterwise verge won’t need a permanent irrigation system. Once established, unirrigated dryland, native plants can survive our hot dry summers with little to no supplementary watering.

If you do require irrigation, Water Corporation recommends sub-surface drip irrigation. If you need help with irrigation, your local Waterwise Irrigator can help.

Remember to check your watering days and be sure to apply for a watering exemption if your new verge garden needs additional watering.

Adopt a Verge

What is the Adopt a Verge program?

The verge is considered to be the area between the road, your property and the property next door.

The Adopt a Verge program is designed to assist residents in converting their turfed or weedy verges into waterwise native gardens. This program is about getting together with your neighbours and transforming the verge areas in your street into beautiful native gardens and the City is here to help you.

Why adopt a verge?

There are many benefits to adopting your verge, including the greening of our local streets, increasing and fostering local biodiversity and establishing biodiversity corridors throughout the City (which means our animals can more easily move through and around Vincent). 

As part of the program, we strongly encourage residents to plant natives as they have low water, fertiliser and maintenance requirements and thrive in the Western Australian climate.

How does Vincent help?

The City will perform the required earthworks on the verge (boxing out and leveling), as well as supplying and installing a thick layer of mulch. Following the earthworks and mulching, it is the responsibility of the applicant to plant up and maintain the verge.

The City undertakes two rounds of Adopt a Verge each year, with one concluding in April and another in August. The timing of the rounds is designed to coincide with one of the City's Native Plant Sales, as well as to ensure all of the earthworks are completed at a time that is suitable for planting.

How do I apply?

Simply download the Adopt a Verge Application Form here, fill in the required fields and return the completed application form, along with a sketched plan of the proposed verge design including the location of any underground services (Dial Before You Dig), to the City either by email at mail@vincent.wa.gov.au, post at PO Box 82, Leederville 6902 or by dropping it into the Admin Building at 244 Vincent Street, Leederville. 

We are now accepting applications for April 2025.

Apply now

Adopt a Verge Fast Track Program

Due to the popularity of the Adopt a Verge program and the associated waiting list, the City is now offering the Adopt a Verge Fast Track program.

What is the Fast Track program? 

The City will perform the required earthworks on the verge (boxing out and leveling) in view that the applicant agrees to undertake the mulching of the verge within one month of the earthworks being carried out. Works on fast track verges will usually occur within six weeks of receiving applications however, please note that this timeframe cannot be guaranteed when works associated with the April and August rounds of the Adopt a Verge program are happening.

As per the Adopt a Verge program, the City will also provide a voucher for 20 native tube stock plants to assist in getting the verge garden established. Vouchers can be redeemed at one of the City's biannual Native Plant Sales.

If you would like to be a part of this program, please apply as per the process for the standard Adopt a Verge program (outlined above). All applications received will be given the opportunity to fast track their verge.

Useful Resources

Please consider Policy 2.2.4 'Verge Treatments, Plantings and Beautification' when planning your verge garden.

Check out the City's Waterwise Verge Guide for handy tips on establishing and maintaining your verge garden.

For more handy garden design ideas, waterwise plant selection and videos on how to makeover your verge visit the Water Corporation website.

House numbers on kerbs

House numbers on a kerb can make it easier to for visitors and services to identify your property. Painting kerb numbers is not a service offered by Vincent however we do support homeowners who would like to arrange it themselves. There are specifications in place for painted numbers on kerbs.

The painted number should not replace the primary house number which should remain clearly visible on your letterbox, fence or house. 

Kerb house numbering information sheet

Related information

Painted numbers on kerbs

Verge and crossover guidelines