Tree maintenance & surgery

When your trees need maintenance, come to Family Tree Care for the professional and experienced help you need. When you engage our services, you don’t just get a tree lopper; you get an expert who understands exactly what kind of care your tree needs to be healthy. We serve the Capalaba area, so give us a call today to ensure your trees stay happy and healthy for decades to come.

What we do for your trees

Trees, like any living organism, need health check-ups and the right care to grow up strong and healthy. Our qualified staff of arborists know every aspect of tree care, and no job is too big or too small for us to handle.

Whether you have a tiny garden in Capalaba or a sprawling grove of trees in Redland City, an experienced arborist from Family Tree Care will make sure that your trees are maintained for optimal health. All works are performed to the standards of AS 4373: Pruning of Amenity Trees.

What we DO NOT do for your trees

Trees that are lopped are actually quite dangerous. When new growths emerge (referred to as ‘Epicormic’ growths) they are poorly attached to the outer layer of the tree. The long-term effect of tree lopping is that as these growths get bigger, they are much more susceptible to breakage which can cause injury or death to a person and damage to property. We don’t provide just a tree lopper but expert arborists who can remove the tree safely and efficiently.

Tree Maintenance Methods

Read below to see the different methods of tree maintenance and to learn more about what we might do for your trees when you hire us.

The correct pruning of a tree for its management can prolong its life and make yours safer.

Formative pruning involves removing branches in order to enhance the tree’s structure and improve its health. This is normally done to younger trees so they develop and grow into well-shaped, healthy trees. Some trees grow strong by themselves, but others need some support. Fruit trees especially need formative pruning because they need precise support for their heavy crops.

This pruning is normally done in the winter as this is the dormant season. Plus, correct and timely pruning can reduce the risk of your tree being wind-blown or knocked over during winter storms. Our qualified arborists can advise you on the best time for formative pruning.

CROWN LIFTING

The selective pruning and/or removing of lower branches of a tree to raise the height of the crown. There is increased distance between ground level and the lower canopy of the tree. Reasons this maintenance method is used are to create more light and space for gardens and lawns, enables access to the bottom of the tree and supports a balanced lower crown.

CROWN THINNING

Crown thinning focuses on the tree’s canopy and doesn’t reduce the height of your tree, rather the removal of a number of secondary, unneeded branches to create a balanced structure that doesn’t noticeably change the shape or size of the tree or the canopy. We suggest this pruning method to allow more light and air to flow through the leaves or to compensate for structural defects.

When your tree has more air and sunlight, the entire tree is dryer, which means pests have a harder time colonising. More light and air improves plant growth beneath the canopy as well.

CROWN REDUCTION

This is the process of cutting branches back to suitable growth points and allows the whole tree and crown size to be reduced while still maintaining the shape of the tree. It allows more space and light in your garden as well as controlling the tree’s size. Crown reduction is sometimes considered when the root systems of a tree has significantly decayed making it potentially hazardous. Note: It should not be considered as a preventative measure for storm or high wind weather as crown thinning is recommended for this. DEAD WOOD REMOVAL It is important to remove any dead or dying branches that pose a risk of injury to people or potential damage to property. Deadwood is created by the trees defence system and can either fall out or fall as a result of weather conditions. To minimise disturbances to any fauna habitat, larger dead wood branches can be safely reduced rather than completely removed. Our aim is to improve the health and general appearance of the tree by reducing risks of harm.