Canadian Maples to replace Melbourne's Dutch Elms?

Image: Courtesy of The Age 17 November 2016

Canadian Red Maples to replace Elms along Melbourne boulevards. 

This may be where we are heading with future tree plantings...

A research report by Dave Kendall (from University of Melbourne) and commissioned by City of Melbourne released yesterday, takes a view of tree data worldwide and looks to predict the effect of our changing climate on the current palette of trees planted within Melbourne. 

This is a fascinating read for town planners, designers, landscape architects and horticulturists just for a glance at the assembled tree lists and a hint of what our future cultural landscape may look like under warmer average temperatures.

But there are also a couple of points that we feel need to be reiterated.  As discussed in the report, it is likely that some species will respond to future climates differently than predicted by these methods and it is likely that not all specimens of a particular species will be equally vulnerable. How trees are grown in the production nursery is vitally important, as this early care ensures resilience and performance.

Site selection, site preparation and post-planting maintenance will continue to play a big part in a tree’s survival in the long term. Let’s also not forget the importance of good growing practices particularly in relation to grafting, cloning and genetic diversity.

For the full article: Tree change for Melbourne, as the city plans for a warmer world.

And more from the City of Melbourne on this where you can view the full report.