Tree Advice
Smart Tree Tips from the Pros To Keep Your Yard Safe and Beautiful
By Daniel Hartley, Head Arborist · · 5 min read
You don’t need climbing gear to look after your trees — just ten minutes and a willingness to look up. These are the five checks our arborists run on every property visit, and they catch most problems months before they turn expensive.
1. Fix the mulch volcano
Mulch piled against the trunk traps moisture and rots bark. Pull it back into a wide, flat donut — 75mm deep, starting 100mm clear of the trunk — and roots will thank you within a season.
2. Hunt for crossing branches
Where two branches rub, bark wounds open the door to decay. Small crossings can be pruned with sharp secateurs in winter; anything thicker than your wrist deserves a professional cut.
3. Scan for deadwood after wind
Dead branches show no leaves in spring and snap instead of bending. Anything hanging over paths, decks or parked cars should come down promptly — deadwood is the most common cause of garden injuries we see.
4. Watch new leans and soil cracks
A tree that starts leaning, or soil lifting on one side of the root plate, needs assessment within days — especially after heavy rain. Photograph it from the same spot weekly so you can show the change.
5. Water deeply, not daily
A slow overnight soak once a fortnight beats a daily sprinkle. Deep watering trains roots downward, which is exactly what keeps trees standing in the next big blow.
Noticed something worrying? Send us a photo through the quote form — a qualified arborist will tell you whether it needs a visit, free of charge.