Verge gardens

A verge garden is a garden on land between a private property and the road kerb, which is planted and maintained by the resident. If you have access to a grassed area in front of your property, then you have the chance to create a beautiful public garden!

A well-maintained verge garden can help to reduce lawn mowing, provide a habitat for birds and insects, cool the neighbourhood and make your home and street look more desirable. It’s also a great way to get to know your neighbours and create a greater sense of community in your street.

Because verges are situated on public land owned by Council, you must get permission first. Council is responsible for ensuring that the verge area is free of trip hazards and pedestrians and drivers have visibility of approaching traffic on the road and driveways, so it is important there are some guidelines to keep everyone safe. Council also needs to ensure that weeds aren’t inadvertently planted.

How to get started

  1. Read the Verge Garden Guidelines and complete the easy tick-box induction checklist on the last page.
  2. Complete a sketch of the verge garden, indicating and where the plants will go.
  3. Ask your neighbours, landlord or strata:
    1. Let your neighbours know that you’re applying for a verge garden, as Council will ask if you’ve advised your neighbours. If all or part of the garden will be located on the verge outside your neighbour’s property, you will need written approval from them.
    2. If you’re renting a free-standing dwelling such as a house or townhouse, you’ll need written approval from the owner or landlord.
    3. If you live in an apartment, you’ll need written permission from your strata corporation before you commence.
  4. Email your completed application (checklist) and rough sketch to publicgardening@waverley.nsw.gov.au.
  5. Wait for your application to be approved. Verge applications are usually assessed within 7 business days, if all documents, including plan and approvals are included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Council recommends planting shrubs and trees that will achieve a height of less than two metres. The use of locally native plants are encouraged as they are suited to the coastal conditions and will have a better survival rate. They also provide food and shelter for native wildlife and require less water than many exotic species. An extensive list of plants is available in the Verge Garden Guidelines.

To find out more about Waverley’s unique environment, visit Native vegetation and animal habitat.

Autumn, winter and spring are the best times to get started – your plants will have a better survival rate if you avoid planting during the hotter months. Don’t plant your new garden before going on holiday, as your new plants will need regular watering for several months.

Only trees selected by Council can be planted on a verge. The Street Tree Masterplan outlines the type of trees selected for each area based on spoil and climatic conditions. You can request a tree for your verge here.

You don’t need to include raised beds in your verge garden. If you choose to use raised beds you can purchase these from a variety of resellers, including public marketplace sites, garden centres and some hardware stores. Ensure any raised bed purchased meets all of Council’s requirements indicated in the Verge Garden Guidelines.

All residents can access some free native plants through the Living Connections Program. You can also visit local garden centres that specialise in plants indigenous to the neighbourhood, such as the Randwick Community Nursery and Indigigrow.

When you visit a nursery to select plants, speak to the people that are in the native plant section at these locations, and show them a photo of your planned verge location and surrounds, as you may get some further suggestions or ideas.

For more information, email publicgardening@waverley.nsw.gov.au or call 9083 8916.