Trees have the potential to grow and become large landscape features affording considerable amenity value, helping soften man-made geometry in our towns, cities and suburbs. BUT! when left unmanaged, trees can also become large dominating landscape features, causing considerable concern for safety and causing various nuisance issues for owner and neighbour alike!

The common issues associated with large trees are

  • Shade
  • Fear of size - dominance issues
  • Safety concerns due to the condition of trees
  • Subsidence - damage to building foundations from tree roots
  • Damage to drains from tree roots
  • Blocking satellite or aerial signal 
  • Touching roof or guttering
  • Obstructing access into or out of an area

The list is not exclusive but outlines common problems associated with growing trees ...

Trees can be managed! and usually, regular routine management will reduce the risk of all the aforementioned issues arising, or at least reduce the issues to a manageable extent.. Lets look at the options for the aforementioned issues one by one.

Shade 

Trees can and do cause shade, the severity or extent of shade will depend on the size of the tree and important;y the tree species. Many deciduous trees (trees that lose their leaves every year) are easier to manage in relation to shade issues. Many tree species can be reduced in size overall, termed "Crown reduction" and can also have the canopy thinned, more often referred to as "Crown Thining". Both crown reductions reducing the overall size of the tree and crown thinning can really help to reduce shading issues. Crown thinning is particularly useful in allowing more sunlight through the crown by reducing density, achieved by selectively removing branches.

Crown reductions and thinning when undertaken by a competent professional, can really help reduce shading issues. More drastically and some time appropriately, complete removal of a tree is the best or only real option.