Trees and shrubs are a vital part of our gardens, providing shelter, fresh air, shade, and support for the ecosystems that keep us alive. But sometimes they can become a problem.

Trees grow, and their roots can make their way into drains, uplift driveways, and even lift house slabs and piles. Driveways and paths can become slippery with moss growing in damp shady areas, and summer shade for windows turns into winter cold and dampness when the nights get long. And then there’s the problems with gutters and drains becoming blocked with falling leaves. Anyone who’s been up a ladder in a thunderstorm trying to unblock guttering overflowing into the wall cavity knows how important it is to keep on top of this (hint: avoid if you can).

Neighbours can be tricky. Some are happy to let you lop away, while others are violently opposed to you touching their trees. Communicating with them beforehand is a good course of action. Then you can share a beer and admire your work afterwards.

The law is that if your neighbour’s plants overhang your side of the fence, you can trim everything on your side, and you can also put the green waste back over the fence for them to deal with – just make sure you let them know what you’re doing and when. You are not allowed to trim on their side without permission. If you want to and they say no, you must go to the high court to get a ruling, which can be expensive. Sometimes, unfortunately, it’s the only way.

Make sure you have the right tools. Chainsaws are much more affordable and easy to handle these days. There are specialist pruning chainsaws, now too. Hand saws are amazingly effective – even regular carpentry saws – but for both aesthetics and effectiveness, Japanese-designed and manufactured saws, called Silky Saws, are works of art and a delight to use. 

Secateurs are an essential garden tool. Trimming is easy with these (up to a certain size branch). And, if you keep them in a handy spot, you can grab them when you have a spare 5 minutes and snip away.

The right tool is usually dependent on the foliage you’re cutting or trimming. For instance, because bamboo is very fibrous, the smaller twigs can get jammed in hedge trimmers, so it requires a long-handled lopper or saw, and each trunk needs to be done individually. It’s an arduous task, especially when you’re 3 metres in the air. 

Other plants are different. Hardwood trees, such as gum, can overwhelm light-weight home chainsaws, so make sure you have something that can tackle the job. Softwood trees, on the other hand, can be easy to trim – trees like Radermachera Sinica, for instance – aka China Dolls – have brittle branches that break and cut easily. Olive trees have many smaller twigs that are easily trimmed with a hedge trimmer – either manual or electric, while larger internal branches can be lopped or sawn depending on thickness.

Pruning fruit trees is an essential part of looking after your garden. Pruning removes dead branches; this helps prevent disease and attack from pests and opens up trees for airflow to encourage new growth and fruiting. 

Hedges require a different approach – hedge trimmers will do vast areas quickly as generally, you are only giving the hedge a trim to shape rather than removing large branches. Just make sure that if you’re using an electric one with a cord, you don’t slice through the cord itself – it’s easy to do!

It pays to invest in good quality tools if you have a garden because nature grows. There is no such thing as a low-maintenance garden unless it’s all concrete and the plants are succulents. If you mess up, remember – it will grow back, and you can dial back the enthusiasm for next time.

Pace yourself – garden work is hard, but the satisfaction is enormous and long-lasting. “If you want to be happy for a short time, get drunk. If you want to be happy for a medium time, get married. If you want to be happy for a long time, become a gardener.”

If you need to tend to any tree maintenance at your rental property, please don’t hesitate to contact us. We have a team of reliable experts on speed dial. They will take care of the whole job, including removing all cuttings and debris.