What Is A Tree Motte, Anyway?

If you’ve ever wandered through woods, you’ve probably seen a tree motte without even realizing it. A motte is simply a cluster of trees that naturally grows together, creating little islands of shade and shelter across the landscape. For wildlife, a motte is a mini-habitat—providing food, nesting space, and a cool refuge from the Texas heat.

When it comes to planting new trees, it stands to reason that mimicking the way trees thrive in the wild is the best course of action. Taking a page from nature’s playbook, we create mottes—small groves that grow stronger together—rather than randomly planting trees here and there. A well designed tree motte combines larger canopy trees with smaller understory plants and ensures trees are planted close enough to share resources and protection, but spread enough to allow air and sunlight to filter through.

To help the newly planted trees thrive, we shape the land with berms and swales. Berms are gentle earthen ridges, while swales are shallow channels that guide rainwater toward the trees. Together, they slow down stormwater, giving it time to soak into the soil—which both recharges the aquifer and filters out pollutants—before the water continues downhill. This type of green infrastructure also protects our creeks, aquifer, and community from the impacts of flooding and runoff.

That’s exactly what’s happening right now in Zilker Park. Zilker 351, in partnership with Austin Parks Foundation, Siglo Group, and TreeFolks, is restoring a 6,000-square-foot area along Columbus Drive near the Violet Crown Trail. The site is especially important because it sits upslope from Barton Creek. By removing invasive plants and planting tree mottes supported by berms and swales, we can slow and clean runoff from Columbus Drive before it reaches the creek to improve our water quality and protect critical habitat for the endangered Barton Springs salamander. Over time, these tree mottes will self propagate to form a living canopy that will combat urban heat making Zilker Park a more comfortable and welcoming place for everyone who walks, runs, or bikes through the area on hot summer days.

We need your help to make this project happen. To plant this project during the upcoming tree-planting season, which begins in October, we must raise $20,000 by September 30.

Your support will ensure this restoration takes root—protecting Barton Creek and the Barton Creek salamander, cooling the air, and giving future generations a healthier, shadier Zilker Park.

To make a contribution toward the Tree Motte Project click here.

Thank you for all that you do to support Zilker Park!