The High Cost of Poor Tree Pruning Practices

O’Brien’s Tree Care has a clear message about incorrectly carried out tree lopping. The costs of this poor practice are very high when compared to correct tree pruning practices.

We have attended and inspected a number of trees and limbs that have fallen in severe weather events across South East Queensland. In an alarming amount of cases it has been due to incorrect and dangerous pruning practices. O’Brien’s Tree Care has had several call-outs in 2021 for corrective amenity pruning on trees and hedges. This has been after the client had tried to save money by using a cheap tree lopper.

Trying to save money this way is downright dangerous, not to mention a false economy. If an unqualified lopper “prunes” a tree that fails and impacts property or dwellings, it can lead to your insurance claim being denied. That’s because poor lopping creates hazards and increases the risk of tree failure.

What Is Tree Lopping?

Tree lopping is reducing branches and stems to a stub, which destroys the natural shape and structure of the tree. It can remove most or all of the canopy. Lopping is very stressful to trees. It will trigger new reaction growth, which is highly prone to failure, especially in windy and stormy conditions. Poor lopping also leaves the tree open to disease, decay, fungi and infestations by insects. All of these also increase the risk of failure.

Lopping is considered by qualified arborists to be an unacceptable practice. It is bad for trees, as well as posing risks to the loppers themselves. That’s not even to mention the risks it poses to other people and property from tree failure.

What Are Safe Pruning Practices?

Pruning is the body of techniques for the correct and uniform practices for safely reducing or trimming trees. The professional arboricultural staff of O’Brien’s Tree Care are highly skilled in the techniques, tools and hazards of pruning. We carry out all our work in compliance with the relevant Australian Standard 4370 – 2007 Pruning of Amenity Trees.

Many trees require pruning for a variety of reasons. These include maintaining or improving their health and beauty, and ensuring they are safe and structurally sound. Trees may also require pruning for practical reasons, such as to provide or maintain clearance for buildings and services.

Professional Pruning Practices – For Safety, Aesthetics and Economy

O’Brien’s Tree Care leads the arboricultural industry with the level of training, experience and qualifications of our dedicated staff. The AS4370 recommends that professionally trained, experienced tree workers carry out pruning. Such professionals should be thoroughly familiar with the principles, techniques and hazards of this work.

Don’t risk lives, property, the appearance and beauty of your surroundings, or your hip pocket with the dangerous practice of lopping.