25/03/2026
Over the past 5 years there has been a huge number of trees that have died on the Surf Coast.
While there has not been a funded study, the conventional wisdom places the blame on 3 main factors.
1. Climate change.
Reduced and erratic rainfall has increased stress on trees. Lowered water table and higher salinity levels mean that trees are more susceptible to salt damage, possum grazing and soil borne pathogens such as phytopthera.
This can be helped by watering trees- but be careful. Overwatering can create more problems than dry spells.
2. Increased possum populations. Again, no study has been done to back up this theory, but KC Treecare has seen a lot more possum damage over the past 3 or 4 years, possibly relating to the Surf Coast council ban on cats outdoors. While it's great to have more native wildlife, some trees are getting completely defoliated, which over a long period leads to mortality.
Fortunately, there is often a solution. Installing possum guards has often worked very well to bring trees back to health. The only issue here is that you need to be able to isolate the tree- its no good putting a guard on the base of a tree if the possums can access it from the next tree over!
3. Phytopthera cinnamomi.
This one is a bit harder. A soil borne pathogen, it has been found on the surfcoast and is blamed for a lot of tree decline.
The indicators are sudden death of grass trees and banksia, followed by many other species.
Unfortunately, while this can be tested for, there's no simple solution.
Phosphite added to the soil can help trees resist the disease, but preventing spread and planting phytopthera resistant species is considered the best long term solution for trees on the Surf Coast.
Examples of phytopthera resistant trees include Bellarine Yellow Gum, Ironbark, Drooping Sheoak and Coastal Moonah.
These before and after photos below are a terrific example of the results that we have seen from possum guarding, done for a happy customer in Anglesea.
These photos below show a timeline of a dramatic increase in tree health and foliage growth after possum guarding a tree for a happy customer in Anglesea.
