Sabrina Hahn: What is the difference between arborist and tree lopper and how to preserve mature trees

With the spotlight now on our rapidly diminishing tree canopy, it’s more important than ever to maintain the health of every mature tree that’s left in our gardens. Mature trees are akin to our bodies — as they get older, they require maintenance and attention. The most important factors in keeping our older trees healthy are pest and disease identification and control, soil health, adequate watering and fertilising, and of course, maintenance pruning. When it comes to this last point, as in all things prevention is better than the cure. Thus the reason you would choose an arborist above a tree lopper is to maintain the integrity, balance and safety of your 40-plus-year-old-tree. Arborists study trees, their growth patterns, their root systems, understand how they uptake nutrients and water, pest, and disease issues, and most importantly, where to make pruning cuts to maintain a healthy canopy and a balance of limbs. Arborists must complete a course in arboriculture and have the opportunity to continue learning and sharing information with experienced arborists across the country. Unfortunately, I have seen so many trees that have had their shape completely ruined by incorrect pruning that produces weak epicormic branches that snap off in high winds. Tree loppers have little background knowledge on how a tree develops a strong framework and where to make the cuts. Lopping can create more problems by making the tree less stable when new growth appears. This is vitally important in trees that tend to drop limbs or self-prune, like lemon scented gums and liquidambars. If branches have too much weight at the ends, they tend to just snap off, or in the case of gum trees in times of environmental stresses, drop entire limbs. I am so fortunate to have a lemon scented gum that is 70 years old and a liquidambar that is around 40 years old, and I consider them to be an asset to the whole suburb. Magpies nest in the gum tree every year; it is like a high-rise apartment for many species of birds, insects, and bats. The liquidambar provides all my shade in summer to the front garden and again provides important habitat for a huge number of fauna. It is my responsibility to ensure their health and longevity for as many years as possible. Tip ArbWest is the Aboricultural Association of Western Australia and can assist homeowners in making the right choice for an arborist to maintain their trees. Three jobs to do 1. Keep tying up climbing plants to control the growth to where you want it, it will require less pruning. 2. Rake up any fallen leaves and scatter around your garden beds. Add a light dressing of blood and bone to help break them down to a fabulous soil conditioner. 3. Spray stone fruit trees with a copper-based spray to control peach leaf curl.