• Messy, ugly or dangerous. There are many different reasons why people want a palm tree removed or palm trees removed. Some palm trees such as the Cocos Palm, are not self-cleaning, in other words the fronds die but don’t drop off, making the palm tree look unattractive and also unsafe. Also the berries and seedpods of the Cocos Palm can be quite dangerous if they fall and hit someone.

• Sometimes palm trees have been planted in the wrong place when they are small, and when they grow to full size, certain types of palm tree roots can cause problems with things like paving, swimming pools, retaining walls, fences and so on. The other problem is that some palms drop their fronds when the fronds have died (these are the self-cleaning palms), and falling palm fronds can be dangerous if you happen to be underneath. Some palm fronds have sharp spikes which is even worse. Some of the more common palms in Brisbane are the Alexander Palm, Foxtail Palm, Washingtonian Palm (Cotton Palm), Queen Palm, King Palm, Date Palm, Triangle Palm, Golden Cane Palm, Spiny Royal Palm, Majestic Palm and Cuban Royal Palm

DIFFERENT WAYS TO REMOVE A PALM TREE

• If you want to remove a palm tree there are several ways this can be done. But firstly, we caution you to get a professional contractor who is fully insured and has the necessary skill. Avoid using contractors who call themselves tree loppers, because lopping is a term used for incorrect tree work (refer Australian Standard AS4373 2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees).

• CHERRYPICKER. If there is sufficient access, a cherrypicker can be used, but this option is more expensive.

• FREE FELLING. This means, just cutting at the base and hoping it falls in the right direction. This technique is risky at best, and irresponsible at worst, and can result in property damage or personal injury if the palm falls the wrong way which is quite common. Palms are much heavier than they look and can cause a lot of damage.

• DIRECTIONAL FELLING – also known as guided felling. This is better than free felling and is done by attaching a rope to the palm before cutting it, then pulling it down in a particular pre-planned direction (space permitting).

• CLIMBING USING CUT AND THROW METHOD. This is safer than free felling, but when sections of the palm are cut and thrown to the ground, they are usually very heavy and can cause quite a bit of damage to areas underneath such as lawns and gardens.

• LOWERING. This is by far the best option. It is safer, more controlled and creates minimal damage. This is done by the climber attaching each section to a rope and lowering the sections down to the ground piece by piece, slowly and carefully. Using this technique, it is possible to cut much bigger sections at a time because they are controlled by the rope. This can often be the cheapest option in the long run because there is very little chance of damage. Many contractors will claim that it is not possible to use lowering techniques for palms, but this is not so.

• WE CAN HELP. So if you need help with palm tree removal around a swimming pool, gazebo, valuable gardens, ornaments, rock walls and any fragile environment, we recommend the best option is to lower the sections piece by piece. Arbor Innovations staff are fully qualified and skilled in these techniques.

• Queensland storms can be fierce and destructive. TIPS …

• Go outside and check your trees. Look for any large dead branches, unhealthy or dying trees, or unstable trees, particularly if your house, carport, fences or anything else underneath could be damaged if a tree fell or a branch snapped off in high winds.

• We can help you with a free hazard evaluation and free quote if you’re not sure whether your trees are safe. Remember, falling trees and branches can kill people or destroy houses, and preventative maintenance can save a lot of the heartache and cost of storm damage.

• You may only need some tree pruning, or in some cases tree removal. The main thing is to make your property safe NOW.

AFTER…….

• No need to panic. We can help if you have storm damage. You can call our 24 hour emergency response hotline 3424.5991 for help with storm damage cleanup. We answer our phones personally and do not use an answering machine.
• We have done work for all the major insurance companies in Qld. We can also give you advice about making an insurance claim. If we can’t attend ourselves, we have a database of other accredited, safe and reliable contractors in your area (this is a free referral service).

An Expensive Lesson To Learn

Keeping Trees Under Control

Cleaning Up After a Storm

For the average property owner or even someone running a landscaping business, knowing everything about tree care is not really expected, but that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some very simple ways to look for when signs that your trees are decaying or diseased.

What a lot of property owners aren’t aware of is that any property damage or personal injuries resulting by a tree or branch that breaks off or comes down during a storm or high winds is their responsibility. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your trees, especially the larger and more mature ones are in good health and standing.

Things To Locate Tree Defects

There are several main types of tree defects: cracks, weak branch unions, decay, cankers, root problems, and poor tree architecture. A tree with defects is not hazardous, however, unless some portion of it is within striking distance of a target.

Cracks:

A crack is a deep split through the bark, extending into the wood of the tree. Cracks are extremely dangerous because they indicate that the tree is already failing

Dead Trees:

Dead wood is often dry and brittle and cannot bend in the wind like a living tree or branch. Dead branches and tree tops that are already broken off  are especially dangerous!

Weak Branches

Are where branches are not strongly attached to the tree. A weak join occurs when two or more similarly-sized, usually upright branches grow so closely together that bark grows between the branches, inside the joins. This ingrown bark does not have the structural strength of wood, and the union is much weaker than one that does not have included bark ( The included bark may also act as a wedge and force the branches to split apart.

Decaying Trees

What you’re really looking for here is advanced decay, i.e., wood that is soft, punky, or crumbly, or a cavity where the wood is missing can create a serious hazard. Normal decay does not mean that the tree is necessarily hazardous. Evidence of fungal activity including mushrooms, conks, and brackets growing on root flares, stems, or branches are indicators of advanced decay.

Root Problems

Trees with root problems may blow over in wind storms. They may even fall without warning in summer when burdened with the weight of the tree’s leaves. There are many kinds of root problems to consider, e.g., severing or paving-over roots (Fig. 6); raising or lowering the soil grade near the tree; parking or driving vehicles over the roots; or extensive root decay.

Soil mounding (Fig. 7), twig dieback, dead wood in the crown, and off-color or smaller than normal leaves are symptoms often associated with root problems. Because most defective roots are underground and out of sight, aboveground symptoms may serve as the best warning.

Poor Tree Structure

Trees with strange shapes are often interesting to look at, but may be structurally defective. This can arise from years of harsh weather conditions and high winds, unusual growing conditions, improper pruning, topping, and other damage external damage.

Multiple Signs of Decay or Defectiveness

The recognition of multiple problems in a tree is critical when evaluating the tree’s potential to fail. Multiple defects that are touching or are close to one another should be carefully examined. If more than one defect occurs on the tree’s main stem, you should assume that the tree is extremely hazardous.

By taking the time to get a professional Arborist Brisbane to come out an have a look at any trees that you are not sure off could be the best insurance you ever took out on long-term peace of mind when the next storm or heavy wind and rain blows through your neighbourhood.

If, by some chance you should need a Tree Removal Brisbane company to help you clear out any defective or dangerous trees or branches, then you will be well prepared for it.

MULCH

• Some people keep the mulch from their tree work to use on their gardens. If we have been paid to do a customer’s tree work, we believe the mulch should be theirs for free. Amazingly, some tree companies charge the customer for keeping their own mulch!  We also have a register of people who want to buy mulch from us when we have some, as it’s much cheaper than from a landscape supplier. We have 5 mulchers (also known as woodchippers). These machines can mulch timber up to 20 inches wide.

THE BENEFITS OF MULCH

• Moisture retention and weed control are the main benefits of mulch on your gardens.

• Mulch also makes gardens look attractive and well tended.

• Although palm mulch doesn’t look pretty, it’s the best mulch because (a) it doesn’t attract termites or whiteants (b) it doesn’t get washed away in the rain, and (c) it stays in place on sloping ground. Because it doesn’t look as good as normal mulch, we give away palm mulch free (contact us if you want free palm mulch).

OTHER IDEAS FOR RECYCLING TIMBER FROM YOUR TREE WORK

• Timber from trees can also be recycled for other things such as firewood, erosion control, retaining walls or garden features. Some timber such as mango, camphor laurel, silky oak and jacaranda are highly prized by wood turners for wood turning (free collection).

• If a tree is being removed, the stump can be cut off high enough to use as a garden seat or as a base for a birdbath or potted plant. This can also save the extra cost of stump grinding.

We can take care of any tree problems you have, from large tree removals to delicate pruning and reduction work. Our focus is protecting your property from damage, keeping everyone safe, and doing quality work. You can ask to see all of our insurances and qualifications.

Read more on our about page

We do tree removal, tree pruning and reduction, stump grinding and much more. We have a reputation for quality, safety and reliability. We’re fully insured, and our teams are all qualified.