Best Time of the Year to Trim Trees

As the popular belief says, there is perfect timing for everything. Believe it or not, that is also the case when trimming your trees. Although trees can naturally grow without too much human intervention, it’s a different issue when you need to maintain their well-being inside a property. Trimming and pruning are essential to achieve the right height and attain the preferred foliage volume for safety and aesthetic. 

Most gardeners would suggest trimming and pruning during the trees’ dormant season. As an expert, we are saying that it is partly true. Besides dormancy, there are many other things to consider, such as desired landscape design, safety, and trees’ well-being. 

Trim to Achieve Attractive Growth

In time, leaves will grow thick enough to look untidy for some garden owners. Specifically, if you consider your trees as lawn enhancers and as hedges, you need to maintain their foliage volume. 

For instance, topiaries, which forms the foliage into ornamental shapes, require detailed clipping maintenance whenever they deform. Meanwhile, hedges need regular cutting to stay on their required height, width, and spacing. 

So consider minor trimming efforts any time of the year to achieve attractive growth of trees. However, note that you should only cut up to 10-15% of the tree’s canopy to keep them healthy and strong.  

Trim to Prevent Accidents

You cannot deny the fact that trees are a falling hazard. Their heavy branches and large trunks are enough to knock down a person. In fact, about 150 workers suffer from injuries while conducting tree works every year. 

Furthermore, they are significantly dangerous when a storm is coming. Based on research, 150km/hr (Category 3 cyclone) is the critical wind speed where a tree trunk breaks regardless of size or species.  If you don’t want to remove your trees, pruning them might be the next best option. 

For safety, plant only small to medium-sized trees on your property. But if you want the large ones, ask professional arborists to conduct pruning services at least once every two or three years to maintain a safe height and distance. 

Trim to Get Rid of Possible Pests and Diseases

Once pests and diseases have affected trees, you should cure them right away with different tree treatments. 

Cutting down pest-infested and diseased branches are essential to extend the life of your sick tree. Also, it is a way to contain the spread of the disease in your outdoor space. However, spotting warning signs of illness is not as easy as it sounds. Thus, check out this article for guidance.

Don’t wait for these pests and diseases to spread uncontrollably. Trees Down Under is just one call away for your trimming and pruning needs, anytime or anywhere in Sydney.  

Trim When Necessary

Once trees mature, they require less maintenance and care unless they have incurring pests or diseases. However, they need trimming and pruning from time to time to keep their groom and beauty. 

You can set a schedule with experts to conduct intricate clipping of leaves and cutting of branches. As some people recommend, winter or early spring is the best time to perform these tasks to ensure healthy growth, especially for deciduous trees. However, some trees don’t follow this principle. 

Thus, it is best to research intensely and connect with a garden service provider like Trees Down Under to prevent hasty decisions. In the end, it is for the safety and well-being of your trees. 

Conclusion

Aside from plants and shrubs, trees are a perfect addition to your garden, especially if you want a breath of fresh air. And like any other living, they require proper care and treatment for healthy growth. 

One way to do that is through trimming. It keeps trees’ foliage in shape and gets rid of pests and diseases. Honestly, you can cut leaves and branches any time of the year, especially when they become a threat to the community’s health and safety. 

Most Trusted Tree Service Provider in Sydney

Most of the time, you need experts when clipping thick leaves and cutting heavy branches. Fortunately, Trees Down Under is your trusted partner for your tree care and treatment needs. Our team has expert arborists who provide quick and excellent services tailored to your needs.   

No job is too big or small for us. We have the right tools and equipment to finish tree trimming, pruning, felling, and removal, safely. Since 2005, we are the leading tree service provider who Sydneysiders call whenever they have tree related problems. 

Don’t worry about calling us in the middle of the night since we are available 24/7 for emergency tree removal services! Contact us at 0475 463 597 or send us a message via email. 

5 Drought-Tolerant Trees

During your days in school, your teacher taught you about the essential needs of trees. So, it is common knowledge that in order to grow well, these trees require sunlight, water, nutrients, and the appropriate type of soil. 

But only a few people are aware that some trees require less water than others. These so-called drought-tolerant trees are the perfect addition to your garden space if you have little time, but you want trees for privacy and added property value. 

Moreover, this type of trees can survive arid and dry conditions, which means you don’t have to worry about consuming too much water during the hottest months. 

So if you want to save water, money, and time, consider these five attractive trees that require the least water in your outdoor space:

1. Northern Red Oak (Quercus rubra)

Due to its maroon-shade foliage during winter, Northern Red Oak is one of the most popular backyard trees that homeowners want outside their property. This fast-growing tree develops a sturdy trunk and rounded crown with age. It reaches from 18 to 23 metres tall and 13 to 15 metres wide ─ which can be a perfect height and width for hedge trees. 

Caring for Red Oak is easier compared to other trees as it only needs regular moisture. It prefers full sun and can tolerate acidic, loamy, sandy, well-drained, or clay soil. 

Furthermore, the best time to plant Northern Red Oak is during spring or fall to avoid the hot climate. It needs deep watering at least once a week. At the time it matures, it can already become drought-tolerant.  

2. Cootamundra Wattle (Acacia baileyana)

In Australia, Acacia is the country’s largest genus of flowering plants with about 1,000 species identified. Meaning, you have a variety of choices available for your garden space. And a classic tree that can magnificently grow in your lawn is the Cootamundra Wattle, which is native to NSW.  

As a garden owner, you don’t want to keep a monotonous colour mood in your backyard. With its attractive yellow flowers, Cootamundra Wattle can enhance the overall ambience of your outdoor space. 

Aside from being an evergreen, Cootamundra Wattle only needs a few requirements. It survives best in full sun and acidic, well-drained, or moist soil but can grow on other types as well. Furthermore, it can undoubtedly adapt to changing climate conditions and perform well with low amounts of water once established.   

3. Japanese Tree Lilac (Syringa reticulata)

Japanese Tree Lilac is a large shrub or small tree that can grow from 6 to 9 metres and 4.5 to 6 metres wide. It can be a single or multi-stemmed tree with clustering and musky-scented white flowers that bloom in early spring. 

It can tolerate light shade but grows the best in full sun with medium moisture condition and well-drained soil. Moreover, it can adapt well to an urban environment but needs good air circulation. 

Japanese Tree Lilac can survive most pest infestations and disease problems. It is resistant to mildew, bacterial blight, scale insects, and lilac borders. Meanwhile, it needs deep watering every 7-10 days as long as there is well-established drainage. 

4. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Eastern Redcedar is a sought-after tree in most lawns since it’s an excellent landscape enhancer. Its dense pyramid shape is perfect as windbreaks and screens. It can reach 12 to 15 metres in height and 2.4 to 6 metres in width. In late summer and fall, it produces blue berry-like fruits, which adds vibrance to your garden.  

It prefers full sun and grows on almost all kinds of soil. Moreover, since its fruits attract birds, it can effortlessly propagate. Tree maintenance for Eastern Redcedar can be minimal since it is tolerant to drought, heat, salt, and wind once established. 

5. Jacaranda Tree (Jacaranda mimosifolia)

One thing is certain. Jacaranda tree is truly a head-turner due to its purple-blue, fragrant, and trumpet-shaped flowers that bloom enchantingly. Most garden owners consider it as an ornamental tree that is perfect when formed in a row. It can grow up to 15 metres tall and 9 metres wide. 

It blooms best in full sun and well-drained soil. Also, it thrives nicely in warm conditions and tropical climate areas. Unfortunately, it does not go well with below zero temperature, and its first two winter years are crucial for its growth. Once it survives the first two years,  frost is not a problem anymore. Lastly, it is drought-tolerant, but watering is required during the dry season. 

Conclusion

Taking care of trees can be quite a hassle. Probably, with your busy schedule, you won’t have the time to water them, especially during the driest season. If that is the case, it is best to invest in trees that require less water than others. You cannot only save time but money and resources as well. 

Hopefully, with the presented five drought-resistant trees, we have answered your questions. And if you choose to plant them, you can always ask our team at Trees Down Under! 

Tree Service Provider in Sydney

Trees Down Under have skilled, licensed arborists who can make the job done with our various tree services in Sydney. From trivial tasks such as mulching to complicated ones such as tree removal, we have the gears and equipment to finish them safely and quickly. 

We service residential, commercial, and industrial clients. We also offer 24/7 emergency tree removal services! Don’t hesitate to contact us at 0475 463 597 or send us a message. 

Complete Guide to Pruning and Trimming Large Trees

Aside from flowering plants and greenery shrubs, most garden owners wish to have trees in their outdoors. Trees can add privacy, security, and value to one’s property.  Also, tall and mature trees can provide shade and fresh air, particularly essential during the hottest months. 

Just like how you take care of other plants, your trees require proper maintenance to keep them strong and healthy, especially during extreme weather conditions. Aside from nutrient-rich soil, water, sunlight, and fertilisers, they need proper trimming to avoid pest infestations and diseases. 

However, the trimming process involves a lot of considerations. And since some trees even grow up to 60m tall, they can become a liability. Maintaining massive and lofty trees requires complicated trimming techniques and treatments.

So, are you wondering how to trim those really big trees? Here is Trees Down Under’s detailed guide:

Planning

Trimming is not only limited to reducing the thickness of the trees’ foliage, but it also involves removing unwanted, dead, and diseased branches. These tasks need a professional’s touch, and some even require necessary permits from the local council. 

Moreover, working with massive branches and towering trees are dangerous. Without careful planning, dangers, such as falling branches, can damage your property or cost someone’s life. Thus, connecting to expert arborists is the best course of action to take.  

Prepare Appropriate Tools

Using the appropriate tools is essential to prevent causing damages to your lawn trees. In fact, incompatible and defective apparatus can cause tree wounds that may soon invite pests and diseases into the trees’ systems. Furthermore, people who need to work with falling branches require personal protective equipment (PPE). 

Here are some of the tools and PPEs used to trim leaves and branches:

• Pruning shears – to cut small twigs with a maximum diameter of 2.5cm.
• Lopper – has longer handle and sturdier blade to cut branches with a maximum diameter of 5cm.
• Pole pruner – extends up to 45m to reach and cut branches with a maximum diameter of 5cm. 
• Saw – attached to pruners to cut branches with a much larger diameter.
• Ladder – to reach high trees.
• Helmet – to protect the head from falling objects.
• Gloves – to allow better grip on tools and avoid hand cuts.
• Eye gear – to prevent tree debris from entering the eyes.

Note that depending on how complicated the task is, you need to get help from professionals to avoid mishaps caused by these tools. 

Clipping Leaves 

Through time, leaves will grow thick, especially evergreens which never lose their foliage during the winter season. Bulky and packed leaves are unattractive for your garden. So if it happens, you need to consider clipping them right away. 

Here are the things to consider and do in clipping those leaves:

• Depending on your preference, decide if the thickness of the foliage is right. 
• Check for discoloured leaves and pests. If present, remove garden pests or cut the leaves when they fully turn yellow or brown.   
• Cut as close to the stem as possible. Use the right shears depending on the required reach and diameter.  
• Avoid cutting more than a quarter of the overall foliage.
• Trim trees during early spring since they can get more sunlight and are actively growing.  

On the other hand, some garden owners want their trees to turn into a topiary, which forms the foliage to a desired geometrical shape. You can only achieve this with the professional techniques of tree service providers like Trees Down Under. 

Trimming Large Tree Branches

Again, trimming large tree branches is a falling hazard. Depending on how large the project is, you need to hire professional arborists to finish the tasks without faults and accidents. Also, based on local council regulations, they are the only ones capable of conducting tree works. 

Dealing with large branches needs extra care and effort. Once the bark gets damaged, it can interfere with the tree’s natural healing response. And as some experienced individuals would say, doing it right is more difficult than doing it wrong.   

Here are some of the techniques arborists do to trim those unwanted, infested, or diseased branches, safely:

• Cut # 1: Notch Cut

From about 60-90cm of the trunk, cut a small notch approximately a quarter of the diameter. The notch cut will prevent the bark from splitting after making the next cut. 

• Cut # 2: Relief Cut

About 30cm from the branch collar, make a relief cut all the way through. It will remove the weight and prevent the branch from splitting and falling during the final cut. 

• Cut # 3: Final Cut

Locate the swollen bump that transitions the smooth branch bark and the branch collar. Then use a saw to follow the slant of the branch collar. If the tool cannot penetrate the crotch at the right angle, cut it from the bottom up. 

Best Team of Arborists in Sydney 

Maintaining the health and well-being of trees requires more effort than flowering plants and shrubs. As they grow taller and produce thicker foliage, trimming them is not as easy as it sounds. 

Trimming really big trees need professional arborists. Luckily, Trees Down Under is available to bring the best tree services in Sydney. Our team of arborists will undoubtedly come to your aid wherever you are in Sydney. 

For years, we have trained and studied to provide unrivalled and efficient tree services. Moreover, we have the right equipments and gears to prevent accidents. 

For excellent, fast, and affordable tree services in Sydney, don’t hesitate to call us at 0475 463 597.