Good planning has graced Adelaide with some particularly lovely avenues and boulevards and one man who spends a lot of time thinking about that is David Lawry OAM, he’s the founder of Tree-net, a non-profit group dedicated to improving our urban forest.

To understand what that means exactly, David showed me some Elms which I reckon most of us would drive straight past and not even notice so keep a look out for this magnificent avenue, just off the eastern side of Fullarton Road at the Waite Arboretum.

David: It was planted in 1928 by the University of Adelaide soon after the land was given over to the University, and it’s a magnificent example of aspirations I think of what avenues of Adelaide could have looked like, Greenhill Road for instance, was based very much on this model, and it was planted 10 years later.

Michael: Well David the trees on Greenhill Road, I notice they’re not doing as well as these, why is that?

David: Well, first of all Michael there’s no traffic, so we don’t have a compacted road base. We’ve got natural irrigation here from rainfall and a well mulched environment, we don’t have irrigation to turf, and of course when the water was turned off for water restrictions the elms on Greenhill Road suffered.

If you look closely at those Elms, you’ll see that over the years they’ve been damaged by vehicles. The scars and hollows allow disease and infections to take hold. Add in drought, a lack of irrigation and these Elms are really struggling. Well the department of Transport have asked the University of Adelaide, Tree-net specifically to redesign Greenhill Road for the future.

David: Save as many of the existing Elms as we can and we’ve chosen replacement species that we know will be there for another 100 years.

Michael: David this is one of the trees that Tree-net have selected to plant on Greenhill Road?

David: Yes Michael, it’s a Crows Ash, and it’s going to look absolutely magnificent in another 100 years, I mean this tree is already 80 years old, and it looks as if it’s got at least another 80 years in it.

Michael: David, it’s a very handsome tree isn’t it?

David: It comes from, it’s a native, it comes from the dry rainforest of Queensland and New South Wales and so it’s got that lush look about it.

Michael: Where else could you plant it?

David: Anywhere in Adelaide, except perhaps Port Road!

You might also notice these new trees along the centre of Greenhill Road… the impressive Angophora Costata (or smooth bark apple myrtle) it might look like a eucalypt but it’s not. Originally from the east coast they’re now being planted right across the country. The Angophora has strikingly coloured bark, sweet smelling flowers and best of all; it’s not that messy.

Another tree that David assures me we’ll be seeing more of…. David: The Wilga is a terrific tree because it grows naturally in clay soil and there’s plenty of that in Adelaide, and it’s been proved in America way before we used it, they use it in car parks, they use it down roads, sits beautifully under power lines, provides nice low shade, it’s about the right scale for a small suburban street.

Michael: David, let’s look at a few tree lined streets that we know, Victoria Avenue?

David: Well isn’t that iconic. Victoria Avenue of course is the one that people, if they don’t live in it, they love to drive down it because you can actually drive down Victoria Avenue on a hot day and you can see the temperature gauge on your car drop 2 degrees, it’s so cool and leafy. Of course they’re Plane Trees and they would have been planted I believe some time, around about the same time as these we’re planted.

Michael: Frome Road?

David: Frome Road has Plane Trees of course; they’re doing very well because they’re hooked into the 6 foot sewer main. Eighteen years ago Cross Road was replanted with Plane Trees with no overhead wires, they’re absolutely fantastic.

So when you’re stuck in traffic or out driving about, take time to appreciate some of our fabulous avenues and boulevards, the kilometres of Norfolk Island Pines which line our esplanades, the Ginkgo’s near the zoo, our fantastic Moreton Bay Fig Trees, The newly planted North Terrace and Hutt Street, the Carob Trees of Colonel Light Gardens and of course the Date Palms and Ficus Hilli down Anzac Highway.

Michael: David when we plant a tree in our own backyard, we water, fertilise, and prune them regularly, do we do the same with street trees?

David: In the first 2 or 3 years that’s exactly what they would get, sufficient water, maybe 5 litres a week when they’re establishing, fertilised only once at planting, because really they don’t need, in fact I think probably gardeners overdo it really. But who wouldn’t love a tree to death.

It’s important to remember that like us, trees have a life span and from time to time we have to replace trees preferably before they die. If we don’t do that the beautiful trees and boulevards that we take for granted won’t be around for our grandchildren and their grandchildren to enjoy.