Menden and Strengberg launch climate‑smart street tree projects

In Menden, Germany, a prolonged dry spell has left street trees stressed. The municipal construction firm Mendener Baubetrieb (MBB) is regularly watering the trees but cannot reach every location. It therefore asks residents to water trees in front of their homes with a bucket, preferably in the early morning or late evening, to help the water reach the roots and keep the trees healthy for shade and cooling.

In Strengberg, Austria, the new "Sunseitn" settlement street incorporates a DrainGarden system that captures rainwater, lets it infiltrate the soil, and stores it for the trees. The design aims to reduce flood risk from intense rain and provide heat protection through tree shading. The project was promoted by Mayor Anton Kasser and Mayor Johann Bruckner, planned by the firm IKW, with landscaping by Alois Graf and tree care by Haas. Funding from a climate‑and‑energy fund and selection by a KLAR! expert jury supported the implementation.