We understand that the hunt for the right tree care professional is a tough one. There’s no shortage of tree companies and jargon that goes along with it. Are you after a tree lopper or an arborist? What do the terms topping, thinning or crown reduction mean? The difference between them may appear marginal but the end result can be huge. So if you don’t mind sparing us 5 minutes of your time here’s a quick guide to understanding what tree company is right for you.

Tree lopping is generally a heavy-handed approach to working with a tree. Often there is little consideration for the tree’s natural healing process and cuts are made in a thoughtless manner. This approach is often quicker and cheaper. The issue is that whilst in the short term you may receive a saving the long term is often a different story. Lopped trees lose a great deal of their value, with a number of studies commenting on a reduction in property value as a result of poorly pruned trees. Depending on the species and severity of the lopping it is not uncommon for trees to die as a result of this pruning practice or end up a mess of epicormic growth (illustrated below). In short, if too much of the foliage of a tree is removed it sends a stress signal to the tree resulting in the production of epicormic shoots that emerge from where the cuts took place. The result? A potentially hazardous and unsightly tree.

How Topping Affects A Tree

Now all of the above is focussed on lopping as a pruning practice, which under the Australian Standard “Pruning of Amenity Trees” AS4373-2007 has been deemed unacceptable, but how about if you want to remove a tree? In this instance, the outcome is likely to be the same regardless of whether you hire an arborist or tree lopper. Assuming the company you hire has insurance, provides its workers with appropriate PPE, and fits into your price range then the choice of a company becomes less complicated. However, it is important to note that often a tree can be retained through a proper pruning program and removal is not always necessary. Be sure to seek out a number of opinions if you would like to understand if your tree can be preserved, we are always happy to provide a free no-obligation assessment.

Ok, that’s a lot, we know… So what is an arborist then?

Now there are many ways to define an arborist and unlike a profession like painting, the results that they arrive out can be very different. But in simple terms, an arborist is a tree care professional that balances the client’s expectations with the health of the tree. They consider how the species of the tree, time of year and other factors influence what work is recommended. Often an arborist will decline to undertake certain pruning, such as topping (as illustrated in the image above) and follow recommendations that are outlined in the Australian Standards.

We hope this has provided a little clarity when deciding whether you require an arborist or a tree lopper.

If you would like any further information feel free to reach out at hello@uppercanopytrees.com.au or give us a call at 0429407915.

 

 

 

 

 

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