Pruning, not lopping
Lopping cuts limbs back to stubs. It looks tidy for a season, then the tree answers with a mass of fast, weakly attached shoots that are more likely to fail. We prune to the Australian Standard for pruning of amenity trees (AS 4373), cutting back to a branch collar or a suitable lateral so the tree can seal the wound and hold its shape. Read more in tree pruning vs tree lopping.
Types of pruning we carry out
- Crown thinning to reduce wind load and let light through without changing the outline
- Crown lifting to raise low limbs over driveways, paths and lawns
- Deadwooding to remove dead and dying branches before they fall
- Crown reduction to shorten the canopy where a tree has outgrown its space
- Clearance pruning off roofs, gutters, solar panels and private service lines
- Formative pruning on young trees to build a strong structure early
How often should trees be pruned?
Most established garden trees are well served by a check every two to three years. Fast growers such as silky oaks, poplars and some gums may need attention more often, especially where they overhang a roof. Timing matters too, and our guide to the best time to prune trees in Melbourne covers which species prefer winter and which are better done after flowering.
What is included
- Assessment of structure, health and target areas
- Pruning cuts to AS 4373
- Removal of dead, crossing and rubbing limbs
- Clearance from roofs, gutters and solar panels
- All clippings chipped and removed or left as mulch
We provide tree pruning across Melbourne's north west, including Aberfeldie, Moonee Ponds, Ascot Vale, Maribyrnong, Keilor East, Keilor. See all service areas.
