What to Do - Tree Trimming
Presenter: Kim Syrus
Episode: #15 28/07/07
Large trees like the River Red Gums are one of our gentle garden giants their wide spreading branches provide welcomed shade and shelter. However, there are times when a branch becomes diseased or damaged, and sadly needs removing and that is a big job. Forget about scaling the tree yourself, waking up in casualty is no joke. What is needed here is professional help.
An Arborist is the best person for the job. They can assess what needs to be done, check with the local council and make sure any surgery will have minimal impact on the tree.
Before starting, having the right safety gear means everyone is covered from the bottom up. Steel capped boots, a pair of chaps with 26 layers of nylon stitched into the front - to protect legs from any wandering chainsaw, gloves, hearing and eye protection and a hard hat is a must.
If the tree is too tall for a ladder or there is no access for a cherry picker then the only way up is with a rope.
The rope is thrown over a branch just above the problem limb. Once the rope is secured, the arborist uses a special knot called a Prussic Knot to help them climb. This knot allows the rope to slide up but not down, so if the climber slips the knot stops them from falling. It does not take long to get to the top and once there, another holding point is tied off to make sure everyone is safe and secure.
Cutting the problem limb is not a matter of sawing through and dropping the branch. Quite the opposite, this needs to be done in a careful and controlled way.
Using a block and tackle, the branch is tied off and secured using a separate rope, controlled by a ground crew. Once the line is tight, it is time to start the chainsaw and get cutting. Handling a chainsaw 30m above the ground requires great expertise, knowing the best position to make the cut quick and easy. Once through, the branch will hang freely and the ground crew can slowly lower the limb. A tidying cut on the remaining branch will help the wound quickly seal over and reduce the risk of disease entering the tree.
After seeing what needs to be done here, Kim will be checking his local Messenger for an arborist next time I need expert opinion on his trees. It certainly pays to be safe and sure.
There is plenty of great information for you to enjoy in the current edition of the Garden Gurus newspaper. Pick up a copy from your local Mitre 10 store and other good garden centres.
This method will stop a branch freefalling through your house roof or pergola
Episode: #15 28/07/07
Large trees like the River Red Gums are one of our gentle garden giants their wide spreading branches provide welcomed shade and shelter. However, there are times when a branch becomes diseased or damaged, and sadly needs removing and that is a big job. Forget about scaling the tree yourself, waking up in casualty is no joke. What is needed here is professional help.
An Arborist is the best person for the job. They can assess what needs to be done, check with the local council and make sure any surgery will have minimal impact on the tree.
Before starting, having the right safety gear means everyone is covered from the bottom up. Steel capped boots, a pair of chaps with 26 layers of nylon stitched into the front - to protect legs from any wandering chainsaw, gloves, hearing and eye protection and a hard hat is a must.
If the tree is too tall for a ladder or there is no access for a cherry picker then the only way up is with a rope.
The rope is thrown over a branch just above the problem limb. Once the rope is secured, the arborist uses a special knot called a Prussic Knot to help them climb. This knot allows the rope to slide up but not down, so if the climber slips the knot stops them from falling. It does not take long to get to the top and once there, another holding point is tied off to make sure everyone is safe and secure.
Cutting the problem limb is not a matter of sawing through and dropping the branch. Quite the opposite, this needs to be done in a careful and controlled way.
Using a block and tackle, the branch is tied off and secured using a separate rope, controlled by a ground crew. Once the line is tight, it is time to start the chainsaw and get cutting. Handling a chainsaw 30m above the ground requires great expertise, knowing the best position to make the cut quick and easy. Once through, the branch will hang freely and the ground crew can slowly lower the limb. A tidying cut on the remaining branch will help the wound quickly seal over and reduce the risk of disease entering the tree.
After seeing what needs to be done here, Kim will be checking his local Messenger for an arborist next time I need expert opinion on his trees. It certainly pays to be safe and sure.
There is plenty of great information for you to enjoy in the current edition of the Garden Gurus newspaper. Pick up a copy from your local Mitre 10 store and other good garden centres.
This method will stop a branch freefalling through your house roof or pergola
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