• Enhancement of local environment and ecosystems
• Provision of shade and shelter
• Reduction of pollutants and sequestration of Carbon Dioxide
• Improved well being

Pruning and removing trees can be dangerous and technically difficult job, and should only be carried out by those who are trained to do so. Trees are also a great asset and can increase property values significantly as well as being large, complex organisms in their own right: poor maintenance of your trees can result in loss of tree health and/or structural stability. Arborists care for trees and provide services that can improve and enhance your tree’s health, visual amenity and long term structural integrity.

What Services can a Qualified Arborist provide?

Consultation: Advice on everything tree related, from correct planting of recommended species to tree health, structure and stability.

Tree Health Care: Soil amelioration, foliar applications, pest and disease management.

Report Writing: Arborists’ reports for local Authorities regarding Development Sites (compliant with Australian Standards AS 4970-2009 Protection of Trees on Development Sites), Tree safety and/or Impact Assessments.

Pruning: Professional pruning techniques (compliant with Australian Standards AS4373.2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees) to: reduce risk, reduce wind resistance, improve access over roads or to improve the struction of young trees.

Removal: Safe, controlled techniques to remove hazardous or dangerous trees.

Management Plans: Long term plans for long lived plants or pruning and management programs for Body Corporates, Shopping Centres and Schools.

Qualifications

As with all trades and professions, there are different levels of qualification for operators and consultants. If you are employing a consultant. They must be qualified to AQF (Australian Qualification Framework) Level 5 Diploma in Horticulture (Arboriculture). If you want a tree removed or pruned professionally, your Arborist must be qualified to a minimum AQF Level 3 in Arboriculture or AFQ Level 3 in Horticulture (Arboriculture).

When engaging an Arborist (at any level), do not be afraid to ask to see proof of Qualifications, Insurance and references. Always get more than one quotation and compare advice as well as price.

Be Aware! Tree Loppers are NOT Trained Arborists!

Tree loppers are often untrained and not educated in correct pruning techniques, they are therefore not able to make informed decisions about your trees. Tree lopping if often sold as a “quick fix” for tree problems but this creates far more problems than it fixes.

Trees that are lopped are extremely likely to develop structural faults, and can become hazardous.

• Add organic matter to enhance your soil. Soils that are rich in organic matter absorb and hold moisture and nutrients more easily, while also containing the right structure for healthy root growth.
• Increase the soil’s water retention by mulching. Spread a thick layer of mulch over the soil, ideally 7.5cm or more thick.

• Provide shade and wind protection. Planting larger trees helps to provide much needed shade and wind protection, and prevents excessive transpiration of water from foliage and the evaporation of water from the soil.
• When planting, separate plants into separate groups depending on their different irrigation needs and by choosing the best microclimate you will enable your plants to grow robustly
• Choose native species that are best suited to the local rainfall levels or drought conditions. Plants such as grasses, legumes, certain perennials and succulents all contain features which enable them to keep growing even during the dryer periods.
• Use less fertiliser and water when a plant is not actively growing. Generally, it’s best to use fertiliser that is low in nitrogen (reducing soft, sappy shoot growth) and high in potassium or potash (encouraging sturdy root development).
• Reduce your lawn area. Some alternative for your garden may include ground covers, gravel or perhaps widen your existing garden beds.
• Collect and utilise grey water and rainwater for watering your garden.
• Compost your weeds. Weed regularly to prevent weeds from drawing the moisture away from your plants. Then by using your weeds as compost you help you plants retain moisture and improve the soil.
• Widen your garden beds. This then allows you to have more soil, increasing moisture retention and providing the plant roots with greater access to moisture rich soil. This is even more important for plants near walls, fences or under awnings. In these areas, only extremely drought hardy plants can survive with a bed less than 30cm wide.
• Choosing the best irrigation for your garden. Consider using products which provide your plants with water at a slower rate. Products such as drippers, shrublers, microsprays and seeping hoses are effective ways of providing water with limited wasted run off and evaporation.
• Reduce evaporation wastage. Practices such as watering your garden early in the morning or in the evening, watering only the soil, not the foliage (unless you have plants such as ferns that require high humidity), and understanding your plants water needs (some plants require very little water when dormant or in cool weather) are all ways to reduce evaporation wastage.

• When mature, trees should not grow to within two metres of powerlines – that is, the powerline from  he street to your home and the powerlines that run along your street or in easements (diagram 1).

• Before planting on ENERGEX easements always contact ENERGEX on 13 12 53 to check if there are any special planting requirements.

• If you want to plant taller plants, apply the 45-degree rule: Plant at a distance from the powerline at least equal to the expected mature height of the plant (diagram 2).

• Do not plant climbing trees or plants near the base of power poles. They can grow up into the lines and pose a safety risk or interrupt electricity supply.

• Do not plant palms within five metres of powerlines.

Naturally Occurring Species

When planting, ENERGEX recommends you consider species which naturally occur in a particular area. By selecting naturally occurring species whenever possible, you will be helping the environment in many ways. The Department of Natural Resources Mines and Water, your local council or local environmental groups, such as Greening Australia, will be able to assist you with more information and you will be able to find out more at local nurseries which carry the safetree symbol.

Planting Safe Trees

To help provide your new ‘powerline friendly approved’ plants or seedlings with a good start, consider the following planting tips*:

1. Check the quality of the soil. Does it appear too sandy, heavy, clay or wet? If so, your local nursery can advise you how best to rectify the situation.
2. Always keep your new safetree moist while it is in its nursery pot, and water daily complying with any local water restrictions.
3. When planting, dig a hole for the plant that is twice the width of the container the plant is currently housed in and the same depth.
4. Water the hole you have dug for the plant and let it drain slightly.
5. To remove your safetree from its pot: (a) place your hand on top of the pot letting the stem of the plant sit between two of your fingers; (b) place your other hand under the pot; (c) turn the pot upside down, being careful not to damage or break the stem of the plant; (d) rotate the pot gently and lift it off, and; (e) using both hands, turn the plant upright again.
6. Back-fill the hole to the required depth (when the plant is placed in the hole and covered with soil, the stem should enter the soil in the same place as when it was in the pot).
7. Place the plant gently in the prepared hole.
8. Fill the hole with soil and press firmly around the roots. Do not use your foot to tread the soil down near the plant (consider using water crystals when back-filling to assist with moisture retention in soil).
9. Create a basin outward from the stem of the plant to help retain water. Place mulch around the planting area (not up against the stem of the plant).
10. When planting is complete, always water plants thoroughly. Water your new safetree every second day for one to two weeks and then water and fertilise as required.

*Always read and follow any care or planting instructions that accompany your new plant. The above tips are designed as planting and care guidelines only; following these tips does not guarantee that your plant will flourish. If you are concerned with the progress or health of a plant, consult your local nursery for advice.

Have your trees inspected regularly (e.g. every two years) so that any problems can be addressed early and at a time that suits you. A qualified and experienced arborist can do this efficiently and economically.

Look for potential hazards and investigate the condition of your trees. You or a qualified arborist should look for damage such as: cracks in the trunk or major limbs; hollow, ages and decayed trees; hanging branches; improperly formed branches; one-sided or significantly leaning trees; and branches that may come into contact with the house.

Know your tree: Some species are more prone to storm damage. You should have a qualified arborist evaluate your trees for hardiness and resilience. Being aware of trees which may succumb to harsh weather conditions will help you decide if you want to replace these potentially dangerous species.

Do not top or lop your trees: Untrained individuals may urge you to cut back or lop all of the branches, on the mistaken assumption that it will help avoid breakage in future storms. However, professional arborists say that topping, the cutting of main branches back to stubs, is extremely harmful and unhealthy for your trees. Re-growth will be weakly attached branches that are higher and are more likely to break when a storm strikes. Also, topping will reduce the amount of foliage, on which the tree depends for the food and nourishment needed for re-growth. A topped tree that has already sustained major storm damage is more likely to die than repair itself.

Protect your assets: Trees may increase property value by up to 20@.. Find out if your homeowner’s insurance will cover any damage your landscape may sustain due to natural causes and include the total value of your trees when listing your assets for coverage. A qualified arborist can provide an estimated value by inspecting your trees.

Trees are dynamic living things that require proper care. Hiring a qualified arborist who can assist you with pre-storm inspections and post-storm repairs can help avoid unnecessary loss of your trees.

Advice for pruning:

• If the work is high in the tree, or involves large branches, it’s a job for a professional climbing arborist. Check the Yellow Pages, or use your favourite search engine to lacte a “Tree Surgeon” or “Arborist” and look for companies that employ Qualified Arborists (Minimum AQF Level 3).
• Ensure that the Arborist that you employ is familiar with Australian Standard AS 4373 (2007) Pruning of Amenity Trees.
• If the tree is young, it may be able to recover and develop new structure. A Qualified Arborist can help with this, regardless of the size of the tree.
• DO NOT TOP OR LOP TREES