Tree Facts

Winter Pruning

Winter is a great time to get out into the garden and tidy everything up. Plants are growing more slowly so it’s finally possible to get on top of everything with the added bonus of not being scorched by the harsh Australian sun. But before you rush out and starting pruning and tidying there are a few important considerations: Cut with purpose. Don’t cut anything for the sake of it. Ensure there is a purpose to your work. Both your back and the plants will thank you. Know your plants. Different plants prefer pruning at different times of the year. A quick Google search will reveal the best time of year for the particular species. Less is more. You [...]

Palm Tree Varieties

The greater Sydney area is home to many different types of palm trees.  Palms give the area a tropical look, so they are very popular with residents in the coastal regions. They range in size and hardiness, but they all have one thing in common – they require a reasonable amount of work by way of cleaning up the fruit they regularly drop, and the fronds which die off. Palms grow taller by losing the lower fronds. In order to maintain an attractive palm, these dying fronds need to be removed or cut off at the trunk. The most common palms in the gardens of Sydney are the Bismarkia, Golden Cane, Chinese Windmill, Cascade, Nicolai and Alexandra palms.  The Bamboo [...]

2018-02-10T21:54:03+11:00By |Tree Facts|

Noxious Weeds in NSW

Controlling weed growth is generally a matter of choice, on the part of the landowner, however if a weed on your property is declared noxious in your area, you have a legal responsibility to keep it under control. Weed control in NSW is determined and regulated by a number of Local Control Authorities, each governing a number of shires or councils. The list is determined by the Noxious Weeds (Weed Control) Order 2014 published in the NSW Government Gazette, and gives details regarding the nature and control requirements for each species declared to be a Noxious Weed in that area. To view the list of noxious weeds for your area in NSW, simply visit this noxious weeds website select the suburb or [...]

2018-02-10T21:54:21+11:00By |Tree Facts|

How to Grow and Care for a Jacaranda Tree

Sydney is home to a great number of Jacaranda trees, and they have become somewhat of an icon here, signalling the impending arrival of summer, and for many, a reminder that exams are imminent. Some streets are covered with a purple carpet, as well as a purple canopy. It is a welcome mess, adding colour and shade, bringing richness to a landscape which consisted of little more than bare branches for the preceding colder months. The Jacaranda heralds summer with a real flair. The Jacaranda tree grows rather large, so if planting a new one, consideration needs to be made for the space required to allow the new tree to flourish. A Jacaranda can grow the width of a property, [...]

2018-02-10T21:48:41+11:00By |Tree Facts|

Poisonous Plants in Australia

About 1000 species of plants in Australia are known to be toxic to humans and fauna. Some may cause skin and eye irritation, rashes and other forms of discomfort, but there are those which, if ingested, may cause vomiting and diarrhoea and worse, if medical attention is not obtained. The Oleander was a common plant in Australia, but has reduced in number due to increasing knowledge about its toxicity. If any part of the plant is ingested it can be fatal, especially for children. Fortunately, the leaves are very bitter, so children are not generally tempted to eat them. None the less, these plants should not be planted in areas where children play. Deadly Nightshade, also known as “devil’s berries” [...]

2018-02-05T20:46:37+11:00By |Tree Facts|

Hedge Advice

Planting a hedge in your garden creates a sense of space, direction and privacy. Hedges can be used instead of fencing along a border, and give definition in a most attractive way, if planted and nurtured correctly. Hedges require regular trimming to keep them looking presentable, so don’t plant a hedge if you are not prepared to do the ongoing maintenance. An unkempt hedge is not a pretty sight! Most hedges are evergreen, retaining their foliage all year round. This makes for excellent screening and creates a permanent barrier which offers privacy. However, some hedges are deciduous providing added beauty to the garden when they lose their foliage in Autumn, and when they flower. Deciduous hedges are not usually established [...]

2018-02-10T21:52:04+11:00By |Tree Facts|

Tips for Pruning a Tree

Timing and technique is everything. If you wait for the right time, and prune in a way which minimises damage to the tree, not only will you be happy with the result, your tree will thrive. This is, after all, what we want – just like a good haircut - giving your tree renewed health and making it more attractive. Why do trees benefit from a good trim? Deadwood is removed and overcrowding of branches is tended to. This allows for the tree to focus on feeding and growing the branches which are more significant in creating strength and shape to the tree. Trees may become lopsided and misshapen if left unpruned. Often the canopy becomes thick from quite low [...]

Autumn Trees

There are many trees and plants which produce a mass of colour in the Autumn months throughout Australia. Trees which lose their leaves each year are called deciduous and these are often the tree of choice because they provide shade in summer, but allow for the penetration of the winter sun in the cooler months. Whole streets in Sydney change colour as a row of Liquidambars turn red before they lose their leaves. Although the fallen leaves make a terrible mess and play havoc with Sydney’s storm water system, the trees are still very much enjoyed and protected. Liquidambars are fast growing and can reach to 30 metres in height. The autumn foliage is spectacular. The Magnolia sheds its leaves [...]

2018-02-10T21:50:49+11:00By |Tree Facts|

Holes in Tree Trunks

Occasionally, holes develop in the trunk of a tree. Sometimes these are visible, but other times they are not easily detected. What causes this and will it kill the tree? The short answer is that a hollow tree may continue to thrive for many years, and the decay of the inside deadwood is a natural part of the life cycle of a tree. The centre of the tree trunk was once the sapling timber, and as the tree grows, stronger layers are built around this sapling wood, until the strength of the outer trunk is what supports the canopy. The trunk of a tree has two purposes – to support the canopy and to carry water and sap from the [...]

2018-02-05T20:46:37+11:00By |Tree Facts|

Trees can get sunburned in cold weather

Did you know that plants and trees can get sunburned? Much like our sunburn, if a tree or plant gets too much strong sunlight it can develop lesions, or damaged spots which allows diseases to enter the plant’s system. This is called sun-scald. Sun-scald, unlike sunburn, does not occur in summer, near the beach. It occurs in cold climates, where there are extremes of temperature. Tree sun-scald often occurs in young trees, because the sapling has a softer exterior, more influenced by sharp changes in weather. Once a plant has been damaged by sun-scald, it cannot be repaired. Prevention is the only cure. Sun-scald is a winter time injury to tree trunks caused by unseasonally warm weather. The sun is [...]

2016-09-28T20:52:13+10:00By |Tree Facts|
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