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Month: September 2022

The Importance of Natural Light For Growing Trees

Trees provide so many benefits in our lives. Most of us grow fruit trees for their yield of healthy, luscious crops or simply enjoy trees’ beauty and the clean air it gives. Well, our home orchards won’t be complete without one. 

You probably realise how much there is to learn about by growing trees. With all the information we can get online on how to grow and maintain trees, one of the most basic rules of plant care is often overlooked: sun exposure. This is an essential element for growing plants and must be emphasised enough. 

Adequate light exposure is vital for nurturing trees to create enough energy to grow. Without ample access to this necessity, trees won’t be able to survive. 

So, whether you’re planning to grow trees in your backyard or already have one but are still unfamiliar with its importance, this article will cover everything you need to know. 

Why do trees need natural light?

Sunlight is the key source of energy for all plants, including trees. 

Trees are autotrophs which means they can create their food. Like how we grab stuff from the supermarket to cook food, plants also need to collect environmental ingredients. 

To combine the ingredients, they need energy. That’s when sunlight comes in. The green chemical found on their leaves, chlorophyll, captures the light as efficiently as possible to fuel the necessary processes for survival.

How important is sunlight to growing trees?

Of all the things we need to consider regarding tree planting and care, the right tree in the right place must be at the top of the list. There’s so much a growing tree need in order to become established and grow healthy. 

Keep in mind the amount of light your designated spot gets because as trees depend on photosynthesizing to make their food and survive, having too much to too little sun exposure can weaken and even kill young ones. 

Sunlight also impacts the tree’s foliage density and flowering and fruiting capabilities. If a tree gets the perfect amount of light it needs, it will surely grow healthy and bear abundant fresh picks for you. 

Different Trees Have Different Needs

While all the trees need sunlight, not all need the same amount. The species of trees dictate the amount of sunlight it requires to grow healthy. 

Let’s start with the basics:

1. Full shade

This means a tree needs limited sun exposure; at least 6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight daily. No tree can survive in total darkness, but they will flourish on the side of homes or shaded yards. 

2. Partial shade

This means a tree needs at least 3 to 6 hours of direct sunlight daily but needs protection from the extreme midday sun. Too much sun can burn and damage the tree, especially the leaves. 

3. Partial sun

This means a tree requires at least 4 to 6 hours of direct sunlight. 

4. Full sun

This means a tree needs all the sunlight it can get. It requires the most exposure to direct sunlight, with at least 6 to 8 hours a day. 

The shade tolerance of a tree is not about how much shade a tree needs; instead, it’s about how well a tree can survive with limited access to sun exposure.

So when choosing which tree to plant, make sure you do some research about what sun exposure (or shade tolerance) it needs and whether your chosen planting spot would suffice it. 

How do you know if your tree needs more light or is getting too much sun?

If you notice the leaves starting to droop or becoming dull green or yellow, a tree is not getting the sunlight it needs. 

On the other hand, the tree is overexposed if you notice signs of burning on the leaves, looking like brown patches or scorched leaf tips. 

Takeaway

Sun exposure is just one factor that can greatly impact the health of growing trees. Before starting your home orchard, ensure your planting location meets all the requirements a tree needs to thrive.

While every location and tree kind requires extra care, it is best to seek help from experts. At Trees Down Under, we are the Sydney tree professionals that would be honoured to assist you with your tree issues. 

Fruit Trees: Top Tips To Grow & Maintain Them Effectively

A beautiful bounty ripe within reach — what could be better than that?

At one point in our lives, we dreamed of having a home orchard. Nothing in life is as fulfilling as having a bite from a fruit freshly picked from the tree you grew yourself. Caring for fruit trees is extremely satisfying.

Fruits are not just healthy and nutritious. Having a tree that bears one can save money on your grocery bill because you can just simply harvest for some, especially if they’re in season. A home orchard, indeed, is a valuable investment. 

Growing and caring for fruit trees can be quite a handful. Whether you decide to grow a couple of fruit trees for your consumption and save money instead of buying from the grocery, or you just want to enjoy the beauty of the fragrant flowering trees, you need to be prepared.

Did you do your research? 

Not yet? Well, don’t worry! We’ve rounded up some top tips to get you started in the right way:

1. Choose the right tree for the location

Most home gardeners have limited choice of location or soil where trees can be planted. You must consider the tree’s mature size when planning where to plant it. If you decide to plant a large tree, make sure you’ve got enough space and room for it to grow. 

You also have to consider the weather condition of your location while picking the kind of tree you like. Some may not survive in certain weather. While most fruit trees do best in fertile, moist, well-drained soil, all they require is full sun. Avoid low spots where water stays long after rain.

2. Pick the right planting time

Knowing the proper planting time is very important, no matter what kind of tree you’re trying to cultivate. If you decide to plant a fruit tree during winter, you might expose young trees to extensive cold and risk of frost-killing. 

Summer might also affect the chance of the roots to soak up enough, which is vital for their growth and development. Know the right tree to plant at the perfect time. 

3. Plant at the correct depth

Trees rely on their roots to survive. Make sure you dig just enough to fit all the roots without bending; they need ample space to spread out and hold the tree on the soil. Refill the hole with topsoil, peat moss, and compost. You want the root swell at the tree’s base slightly above the soil level. 

4. Keep the roots hydrated and avoid air voids

Ideally, for bare root trees, it’s suggested to soak the root ball in the water, completely saturating it for at least 2 hours before planting, but no longer than a full day. After planting, use a hose to water the roots, collapsing any air voids. 

You may also firmly tamp the soil around the site as you backfill the hole, tucking the soil around the roots and preventing big air pockets from forming. 

Don’t smash it. Just apply the right amount of pressure. 

5. Don’t forget to water regularly

Newly planted fruit trees need regular watering. Unless your place is experiencing heavy rains, your new trees must be watered as often as possible. You can water daily for the first 2 weeks after planting and every 2-3 days for the next 2-3 months. 

After adjusting, just water the trees when needed, especially during the dry season, until they become well-established, regularly check the soil at the base of the tree to ensure you water just enough. 

6. Stake your fruit trees

Staking your new fruit tree is essential to keep it vertical while they become established. It’s specifically required for dwarf trees. Staking also keeps the root immobilised, so the new roots won’t be affected by the tree moving or tipping over. 

Place the stake about a foot from the tree after planting. You can remove it once the tree is established and can stand independently. 

7. Prune if needed

Many would ask if pruning is necessary for young trees. Well, yes, but only when needed. Pruning can help shape the tree and reduce moisture stress from digging and transplanting. Tip pruning also stimulates the tree to grow more roots and start the process of producing buds and shoots. 

Pruning may be much needed during the first year of planting, but as long as it’s done adequately and properly, little to no pruning will be necessary for the coming years. 

8. Mulch for beneficial bacteria

Mulching is essential for your new fruit tree. A good mulch ring around your tree will help conserve soil moisture and block weeds. This can improve the biodiversity of the soil and encourage healthy root growth. 

Create a mulch ring about three feet from the base of the tree. It’s important to avoid mulch touching the tree trunk as this will promote rotting. You can use any organic material like wood chips, grass clippings, dried leaves, and compost in 2-4 inches thick mulch. 

Conclusion

While fruit tree growing and maintenance can be tricky and difficult, it’s always gratifying, especially when biting into the first freshly picked fruit from your tree. 

Paying attention to our tips above will help your new tree survive and yield a better fruit crop!

If you require tree pruning or tree removal services, please call our experienced Sydney tree loppers on 0475 463 597!

Base of Tree Rotting: Everything You Need To Know

For thousands of years, trees have been a component of human existence. They are widely regarded as the basis for spirituality and religion in many cultures. 

Today, trees are flawlessly a beautiful and valuable addition to both our environment and our property. 

As you can see, different trees and plants flourish in every neighbourhood to offer warmth and shade. Trees purify the air, remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, and supply us with oxygen. 

True enough, plants are essential to preserving human health and a healthy ecosystem.

However, as it grows and is just beginning to establish itself, it encounters issues that cause rotting and other forms of degeneration. This problem shouldn’t cause you any concern. If you see signs of decay or rot at the base of your plants, keep reading.

Common Reasons Why Rotting Tree Bases Occur?

We all know that the tree’s base is the first and foremost foundation, the thing that holds the entire structure together. The base is the essential element that transports water and nutrients for it to thrive and flourish.

And when it shows signs of decay, cutting down the limb or base of your tree might be your first thought. You have every reason to be concerned, as it is particularly true that rotting is one of the indicators of a dead or dying tree.

However, if you’ve noticed your tree is rotting, it’s highly discouraged to cut it off, even sealing it in any way. 

That’s right, you read it correctly. 

The best thing you can do for a well-established tree that shows signs of rot is to let it take care of itself.

The following are common reasons why tree bases rot:

  1. Caused by natural events

Our trees frequently sustain damage from routine exposure to natural occurrences like storms, floods, birds, and other wildlife.

  1. Human inflicted harm

Just like other living things, trees can be harmed by people. We’re not exempted from causing injury to our trees, especially due to our negligence such as:

  1. Tree diseases

Trees can contract a variety of diseases, such as those brought on by fungi, bacteria, insect infestations, and wounds to the trunk. These diseases are brought on by pathogens, which are spread by animals, wind, insects, and other insects.

  1. Old age

Older trees are more vulnerable to pests, soil-borne illnesses, fungal infections, and other problems. By infecting the tree’s roots, trunk, branches, and other sections, these infections might harm it, leading to its demise.

Why Should You Leave Your Tree Alone?

A well-established tree, it repairs and seals the rot. It takes care of itself by growing new wood for its wound on its own. Simply put, it heals naturally. Rot or decay do not necessarily indicate that a tree is dying. 

Some of these symptoms are manageable. In other instances, the tree itself halts the progress of deterioration. 

But were you aware that the rotting of tree bases is a natural process? In most cases, after a tree is cut down, it decomposes and the remaining parts—most notably the roots and trunk—are left to rot. 

Knowing how valuable trees make it heartbreaking to see them deteriorate. If your tree is healthy, it is strongly advised that you leave it alone to heal itself. 

Tree rot typically manifests as the following:

If you believe it needs some help, here are the following options to give your tree some TLC:

Give it a boost

A rotting base is often a common indication of a weak, hurt, or dying tree. Providing it with all the tools necessary to fend off wood rot, make it simpler for the tree to grow new tissues. Ensuring the tree has enough water and nutrients is a wonderful way to increase its chances of surviving. 

Give it a prune

Pruning a tree has many advantages— sick, dead, or damaged branches need to be taken down immediately. Regular pruning minimises the required labour and the strain on the tree’s base during its lifespan. Essentially, pruning your tree significantly affects its growth, health and survival.

Call an expert tree removal service in Sydney

If corrective measures are no longer effective in treating advanced decay or rot, it’s best to call an expert removalist. The structural stability is likely to be damaged, and it could collapse anytime, endangering your family. 

Alternatively, it might collapse into a nearby building or utility line, causing damage and unwanted arguments.

With routine maintenance, rot or decay can be avoided. It is recommended to delegate the task to the skilled Sydney tree removal company if you believe you lack the equipment to safeguard your tree from physical and natural harm.

Can I Trim Or Cut Off Overhanging Trees From My Neighbour?

Is it reasonable to be angry at your neighbour for overhanging trees? Or wouldn’t it be better to appreciate that they offer shade from the sun simply?

Overhanging trees are a common sight in most cities and towns. Sadly, behind the beautiful sight of overhanging trees lies a nuisance and potentially hazardous scenario if not maintained regularly. 

This is a common problem in every residential community with many trees and other yard greeneries. Although there are many ways or solutions you can deal with your neighbour’s overhanging trees on your own, remember that it is not your tree. 

If your neighbour’s trees are hanging over your property line or you consider them dangerous, find out how to protect your space from potential risks posed by overhanging trees. Handle it legally to prevent arguments and other types of problems.

What Should You Do When Trees Overhang Your Property

In addition to the damage to the property, overhanging trees can pose a serious risk to a person’s safety. It is crucial to have a plan before it’s too late. But before that, there are actions to undertake before you resort to trimming or removing the encroaching tree.

As long as you do not harm the rest of the tree, you can cut or trim overhanging leaves, roots, or branches that reach your boundary. Also, you can cut or trim the tree if the council’s protection does not cover it.

Here are the following actions you need to take before trimming or cutting off the overhanging tree

Ask for Neighbour’s Consent

Although you have the right once the tree encroaches on your space, asking your neighbour’s permission first is always polite. You can’t just put together all your tools without considering how your neighbour feels about the scenario.

Apply for your Local Council’s Approval

Ask your local council for approval to prune or cut a tree. You’re likely required to fill out a checklist. Both the applicant and the tree owner must likely complete the application.

The requirement for approval may also be waived depending on the type of work or the tree’s species, type, and condition. 

If the following actions don’t work, you should try mediation before filing a lawsuit. If mediation is unsuccessful, you may file a lawsuit.

Application for Trees and Hedges Dispute in NSW

Regulations on trees and hedges help safeguard our properties, the local populace, and wildlife. Among other grounds for establishing such laws are also crucial to the tree management sector.

However, we mentioned earlier that overhanging trees are commonly seen in residential areas. And since there are trees that creep and even develop large, deep roots, it can freely encroach even on the neighbour’s property, resulting in disputes. 

If your neighbour disagrees about dealing with its overhanging tree, educate yourself about the process for tree and hedge disputes.

Trees Dispute Act 2006

The Trees Dispute Act helps resolve complaints regarding a neighbour’s overhanging hedging and trees. Other than overhanging trees, if you find yourself in any of the following predicaments, such as:

Under Class 2: Tree Disputes and Local Government Appeals a person may file a petition to the Land and Environment Court for orders. 

Dividing Fences Act 1991 NSW

Some tree disputes fall under the Dividing Fence Act 1991. This happens when the relevant trees qualify as a “sufficient separation fence” under the given conditions. In such situations, the NSW Civil & Administrative Tribunal may then handle the situation.

Who Can Apply for Orders?

The applicant for a tree or hedge dispute must be the owner or occupant of land adjacent to the property where the tree or hedge is located. And you have two options: 

What is the Process for Trees Dispute

The first step toward your appeal’s success is to make the following preparations:

  1. Title Search or Property Zoning
  1. Get the Experts Involved

To successfully win your dispute, you must collect solid evidence. That is why it is recommended that you contact qualified professionals such as:

This further supports your application if you need to present proof of the origin, nature, severity, and cost of the harm caused by the tree. Get in touch with a reliable, certified specialist in your area if you need an arborist.

  1. Gather other proof or evidence

Compiling proof or evidence is the most effective way to prove or refute a claim. In any dispute, gathering and preserving evidence is crucial. Show proof of damage or loss brought on by the tree or hedge through images, videos, or diagrams like a shade diagram.

Who Pays for Tree Trimming or Cutting?

In this case, the pruner is responsible for covering the costs. Yes, you are responsible for the cost of removing or trimming the overhanging tree, whether the neighbour has granted permission or a permit has been obtained from the local government. 

However, the Court has the right to decide to make your neighbour responsible for the expenses under reasonable circumstances. This occurs if the neighbour has slowed the legal process or refused to provide the necessary documents.

Should I Throw Branches Back Over the Fence?

Yes, you have the right to return the tree debris to your neighbour since it is their property. Do you, however, find it comfortable to send the debris to your neighbour? 

To have the trees removed, you might want to get in touch with a local Sydney tree removal company. From trimming to the last piece of debris, a dependable service provider will make sure to complete the job without placing you under undue stress.

Tree Ant Infection: Everything You Need To Know

Although tree ants typically do not hurt people, they can be exceedingly unpleasant and occasionally even deadly. For this reason, trees you are growing on should regularly be sprayed with insecticide to protect them from tree ants.

Tree ant infestation is unsightly, uncomfortable, and potentially harmful. It makes your yard look like a battlefield as you scurry around, swatting away some ants to prevent it from inflicting needle-like stings.

If you’re unsure how to get rid of these tiny rebels, we’ll show you some measures to free a tree from an ant infestation. But, first, let us learn how to recognise the early signs of ant infestation in our trees.

Early Signs of Tree Ant Infestation

The ant is one of the most pervasive and destructive insects in our homes. In the same way that we get rid of ants infesting our homes, we should do the same for our trees. Ants pose a wide range of potential risks if they aren’t kept in check.

We frequently miss or recognise the warning signs, leading to significant problems later. You should watch out for the following signs to prevent future tree ant infestations.

Visible worker ants around the tree’s base

One of the easiest and most evident signs of an ant infestation in our trees or plants is the presence of ants near the base of the tree. Ants may have built a colony near the base of your tree if you see them foraging freely for food in your garden.

Visible mounds or large groups of ants

In most cases, you’ll notice mounds and large groups of ants huddling together. Even noticing a colony of ants should prompt you to take the required precautions to get rid of this tiny band of opportunists.

The tree has holes

Most likely, ants dig into trees to make their nests. Also, digging holes suggests they are foraging for nectar inside rather than just using the tree as a home.

Trail of ants

If you see ant trails or marching in, there is already a possibility of infestation. This implies that they have invaded your tree, any surrounding structure, or a suitable hiding place.

How to Handle Ant Infestation on Trees

Despite not causing damage, ants can prevent the tree from regaining its full strength. Considering how damaging ants can be and their ability to spread disease, it is important to take immediate action to prevent serious problems.

We’ll show you effective measures to stop ants from invading and infesting your trees and garden. 

Finding the nest is the first thing to eliminate the ants. But it’s also important to repair the damaged wood and moisture to avoid structural issues and other ant infestations.

The best technique to deal with tree overrun ants is to spray ant powder around the tree’s base. This doesn’t need to exert work to apply and is excellent at eradicating the ants when they leave the tree to gather food.

Use your trusted insecticides to infiltrate the nest. While the ants leave their protected habitat, spray them with liquid insecticide. 

Once you’re done infiltrating the nest, prevent foraging ants from continuing their activity. Simply apply the pesticide to their trails to accomplish this. To completely eliminate them, you might have to repeat this process every year or as necessary.

Maintaining your yard clean, weed-free, and tidy will allow you to spot ant mounds and ant colonies inside your trees. This enables you to deal with them more quickly.

Also, routine lawn upkeep will keep ants from invading your yard and spiders and other insects. 

Doing the following measures above gives you two options such as:

1. Do-It-Yourself  

It’s fairly simple to remove or eradicate ants from your tree. Some homeowners prefer to deal with ant removal on their own and do the following:

Unfortunately, we often fail to see that it veers you away from your priorities. It is also far more expensive to gather the tools to eradicate ants. If it’s your first time, there is probably the potential for error, costing you time and money. Other than that, a typical individual can’t assess the severity of the infestation in any other way.

If an infestation has seriously damaged the health of your trees, you will require additional tools to remove it. Before cutting them down, you must determine whether they are worth saving or if they pose a danger to people and the nearby structure. 

Therefore, the second and best choice is to hire a Sydney tree removal professional to complete the task perfectly and successfully.

2. Hire an Expert Tree Removalist

Delegating the tedious and tiring process of eradicating ants from your trees and yard is beneficial. Your friendly neighbourhood tree specialists are trained to identify and eradicate tree ants, black spots, and even the terrible emerald ash borer.

In addition, professionals can identify any underlying problems, such as weakening a tree’s structure and necessitating removal. Not only will we make the job faster, but you’re also guaranteed safe and effective elimination of ants from your trees and yard. 

The next time you stroll around your yard, you won’t have to bother shooing ants away. So entrust the eradication of tree ants to the professionals today!

Tree Risk Assessment Sydney: Everything You Need To Know

Tree risk assessments help us determine a tree’s health and the likelihood of branch or tree failure. It is done only by certified arborists and is crucial in keeping a household, business, or public space safe from falling hazards or obstruction.

By assessing a tree’s health and the likelihood of failure, you can determine whether it poses an immediate threat to property or people. After that, a certified arborist should recommend removal or rehabilitation to the owner.

How Arborists Evaluate Tree Risk in Sydney

Several factors come into a tree risk assessment. Some of which are as follows: 

History of the Tree

Certified arborists would look into the tree’s age, history of previous branch failures, and health conditions. Knowing so would help them evaluate the likelihood of failure and at which parts. Besides, finding tree borers and history of pest infestation can also give away the tree’s current health condition.

Current Tree Health and Vigour

Observing the tree’s bark condition, leaf colour, season, and canopy density will help an arborist determine the tree’s current health and vigor. In many cases, we’ll look at the quantity of deadwood attached to the tree and how pruned branches have healed.

Any unusual healing patterns and a low-density canopy indicate a tree’s declining health. Your arborist will then evaluate the necessary treatment or removal procedure.

Tree Profile

Each tree species has unique growth patterns, structure, and maintenance needs. Each tree removal and pruning project is done with a case-by-case risk evaluation. Some trees have shallow roots and risk uprooting over gusty winds.

In other words, a tree’s species is crucial for a proper risk and failure assessment as it will determine which treatments and removal process is necessary.

Crown Thickness and Density

If a tree’s crown has uneven density and a lot less foliage on its top-centre branches than the rest of its canopy, it clearly indicates that a tree’s health is declining. 

Potential Failure and Cutting Points

Suppose a tree is situated in a crowded suburb or public location. In that case, removing and pruning will expose nearby properties and people to a significant risk of damage and injury. Certified arborists take the time to properly analyse the tree’s failure points and how to remove a branch with as minimal risk as possible.

Moreover, arborists will assess a branch’s likelihood of failure – its probability of breaking and falling due to disease and decay. The higher a tree or branch of failure, the more you need an arborist to remove it.

Failure Consequences

As discussed, a certified arborist will put safety above anything else and evaluate the consequences of a tree or branch failure. That includes evaluating a tree’s location, proximity to people or properties, flora and fauna directly under a tree, and anything nearby that may be damaged due to failure.

If the only consequence of failure is damaging a fence or a shed, our arborists may advise pruning and preserving the tree’s health. But if the decaying tree has the potential to injure or risk of casualty, we will recommend immediate removal.

Risk Mitigation

As qualified arborists, we value every tree’s life, growth, and contribution to its surroundings. But when a tree is close to its point of failure, we will not risk someone’s life in exchange for a decaying tree.

Risk mitigation is key to every tree pruning and removal project. We always ensure the community’s overall safety and will do our best to remove the tree with as little impact on its surroundings as possible.

Can All Sydney Arborists Perform Risk Assessments?

That’s not quite the case. The term arborist is quite broad and includes various specialists in the same field. That said, not all arborists can perform and verify risk assessments.

Arborists come in many types, two of which include:

Moreover, arborists also have varying qualifications and certificates. A Certificate III in Arboriculture is required for working arborists, while a consulting arborist should have a diploma in Arboriculture.

At Trees Down Under, we take pride in our certified III licenced arborists and qualified staff to carry out a risk assessment and perform safe and efficient tree removal services.

Are Arborist Reports Included in Risk Assessments?

Depending on your local arborist, they could issue an arborist report at your disposal, and the local council or city will request it for tree removal.

Usually, we will not provide an arborist report for small removal projects as it typically incurs extra fees for the project. Nevertheless, we’ll properly communicate our assessments to our clients and even bring you along the tree pruning or removal to ensure we convey our recommendations.

But if your city or local council is fighting to preserve the tree and you have requested its removal, we can provide an arborist report complete with safety and long-term risk assessments.

Partner with a Credible Sydney Arborist For Your Tree Risk Assessment

Trees Down Under have provided safe and affordable Sydney tree removal services for residents and businesses for over 11 years. We have trained and educated our in-house staff to implement a tree risk assessment case-to-case basis and execute hazard-free tree removal, stump grinding, and tree pruning projects.

You can reach out to us at 047 463 597 or chat with us to ensure safety, reliability, and transparency on your next tree risk assessment in Sydney. Brief us in on your arborist requirements and project details, and we’ll get back to you with a free quote.

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244 New Line Rd, Dural, Sydney, NSW, 2158