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Everything You Need to Know about Gold Coast Tree Removal Laws

Queensland tree removal laws differ from council to council. Namely, every local council has its own tree removal regulations which people need to follow. So, in order to help you understand the tree removal regulations of the Gold Coast City Council, we – TPS Tree Lopping – have come up with this simple guide which will help you remove trees legally and safely.

However, this guide is a general one and there are often some exceptions and differences depending on the property size and zoning overlays. Hence, before starting the tree removal process, make sure you consult a professional and qualified arborist. A TPS Tree Lopping arborist will give you a detailed and correct assessment and explain which steps exactly you need to take.

Now, let’s begin and dig deeper into the Gold Coast tree removal laws:

When Can You Remove a Tree without Getting an Approval?

Sounds strange, but yes, you sometimes need to ask the local council for approval to cut down your tree, especially if it is a protected tree. On the other hand, you can legally remove a tree from your private property if:

  • the tree is within a 3-meter radius from your house or other building structure
  • the tree is within a 1.5-meter radius from your fence, including your pool fence
  • the tree hasn’t grown 4 meters in height or 40cm in circumference
  • the tree is on the pest species tree list which includes Cocos Palm, Cadagi Tree, Coral Tree, Umbrella Tree, and Slash Pine Tree

So, if you want to take down any tree that fits any of the above-mentioned descriptions, feel free to do so without asking for consent from the council. But again, make sure an experienced arborist inspects your tree before you begin.

How to Get Approval from the Gold Coast City Council?

In the second case, if your tree doesn’t meet the descriptions mentioned above or it is located on body corporate common property, you need to ask the Gold Coast City Council for approval before you begin with the tree removal process.

But, don’t think of council approvals as obstacles because you can easily get the approval if you notify the council in the right way. And, what’s even more convenient, your arborist can lodge the application to the Council on your behalf and get the approval without any complications.

Tree Removal on Body Corporate Land

Last but not least, we’ve already mentioned that you need to ask the council for approval if the tree is located on body corporate common property. This is needed because all trees on such land are protected and because by doing so the council will ensure vegetation levels are maintained from the original approved landscaping plan.

Luckily, the TPS Tree Lopping tree service company is here to help and advice you on what you should or shouldn’t do when thinking about tree removal. Don’t hesitate and call us today to ensure a legal and safe tree removal!

When is the Best Time to Prune Trees?

Pruning is one of the most common tree maintenance procedures. For those of you who are not familiar with the term, tree pruning is a process of removing parts of the tree, such as brunches, in order to keep the tree healthy. A healthy and well nurtured tree produces high quality flowers, fruits and growth in general.

Tree pruning, cutting or trimming is an ongoing process throughout the life of any tree. After planting your favorite tree, early pruning is essential. Proper and regular pruning will save you lots of money and give you a healthier, safer, easy to maintain and beautiful looking tree. You should remember that what you do to your tree in its first couple of years will affect latter on its strength, shape and life span.

All tree pruning must be done with an understanding of its biology. Improper pruning may result in a long lasting damage and shorten the tree’s life.

When is the best time to prune?

This depends on variety of factors. For example, light pruning and removal of dead wood can be done anytime.

Winter Pruning

Tree pruning during the winter period is the most common practice. When pruning in winter, it usually results in a vigorous burst of growth in the spring. If that is the desired effect, then you should definitely prune in winter.

You should wait for the coldest period of winter to pass. Some particular species, such as walnuts, birches and maple may bleed when the sap begins to flow. But this is not harmful at all and will completely cease as soon as the tree leafs out.

Summer Pruning

If you want to slow the growth of unwanted branches, or just want to slow the development of the tree, then the pruning should be done right after its seasonal growth. By doing tree pruning during the summer period, you’ll reduce the total leaf surface, thereby reducing the amount of flowers and food manufactured.

Pruning for corrective purposes is another important reason why to prune in the summer. You can see the defective limbs more easily or limbs which hang too far down, under the weight of the tree leaves.

Pruning Flowering Trees

If your pruning purpose is to enhance flowering, you should have the following couple of things in mind:

  • If you’re pruning trees which bloom in the spring, then you should prune as soon as their flowers fade.
  • Shrubs and trees which bloom in mid to late summer should be pruned early in the spring or in the winter.

When not to Prune?

Fall is the season when pruning should not be done at all. Healing of wounds is slower on fall cuts, so this is not a good period for tree pruning.

Now that you know all that you need to know about tree pruning, it is time to contact us at TPS Tree Looping Company, and get all the needed help and information from our team of professionals.

 

Everything you need to Know about Tree Removal

When you need a professional tree removal service, be sure to turn to TPS Tree Lopping, as we are a professional full-service tree company.

It is known that everyone loves trees, as they provide fresh air, protect us from annoying winter winds, give us food and provide homes for different kinds of birds and other wildlife.

Sometimes, you will find yourself in a situation when you’ll need to remove a tree. In this article today, we will discuss the main reasons for tree removal.

Different Reasons to Remove a Tree:

Old age and disease can easily turn trees into hazards. Also, root systems of trees can undermine the foundation of your home, as well as invade a septic tank while weakening havoc or your whole system.

Some people want to build their home on a wooded lot, which will require a strategic tree removal in order to make room for the new house.

When a tree needs to be removed, you’ll be faced with an important decision, like who to contact to do the job for you. There are a few options to consider when it comes to tree removal:

Removing a tree can be a very dangerous work, especially if you are cutting a tree for the first time, as the chances of injuring yourself are huge. Also, you should be sure not to hire amateurs, as lots of people think they can remove a tree after watching a video on YouTube. It takes lots of experience and training to safely remove a tree.’

  • Don’t try to do it yourself

Workers are not the only ones in danger when armatures try to perform this dangerous job. Hence, dead branches can behave very unpredictably, especially if you don’t know how to properly read them. The tree removal equipment is very powerful, so it is very important to know how to use it properly and safely. You are probably aware that as a homeowner, if something happens to an uninsured worker on your property, your insurance company will be obligated to cover the workers injures or worse. So, in order not to risk your financial standing, don’t hire amateurs. Instead, turn to a professional tree company, and they will finish this dangerous job for you.

  • Call the Professionals at TPS Tree Looping

We are a professional tree service, with experienced and highly trained team. We have the proper equipment and our professionals know exactly how to use it safely.

The cost of removing a tree/trees depends on several factors, such as the tree height, the width of the trunk, the location of the tree/trees, the number of branches, the proximity of utility lines, etc. For a more accurate estimate, feel free to contact us at any time, and we will make sure to give you an estimate as soon as possible.

TPS Tree Looping is a class-A, fully licensed contractor, with a liability insurance for the entire team. If you want a professional tree removal service, be sure to contact TPS Tree Looping.

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Everything You Need to Know about Stump Removal

You may need to remove a tree from your property for a number of different reasons. For example, you may need a tree removal because the tree is dead, diseased, damaged, decaying, or hazardous. Or, you may simply want to remove a tree due to better aesthetics. Whatever the reason, removing a tree is easily doable. However, stump removal is a bit more tricky and complicated.

Tree roots grow far deeper into the ground which makes the stump removal process challenging. That’s the reason why stump and tree removal should be done by a professional, skilled, and experienced tree service provider. So, if you’re located somewhere near Capalaba and need a tree to be removed, contact the TPS Tree Lopping company which offers expert tree service.

Why is Stump Removal Needed?

In general, people think that tree removal is enough. Unfortunately, that’s not true. In fact, removing the stump is just as important and removing a tree. Why? Here are the main reasons:

  • Stumps decay and attract beetles, termites, ants, and other wood-boring pests.
  • Tree fungi may appear and spread which will infect the healthy trees around the stump.
  • Stumps can contribute to new sprouts and cause new tree growth.
  • They simply aren’t appealing to the eye and take up yard space.

Why Hire a Professional Stump Removal Expert?

Regardless of the type of tree work you need to do from pruning and trimming to tree and stump removal, it is always a better idea to seek professional help, unless you are a certified arborist.

Namely, such work, especially stump and tree removal, can be quite dangerous and accidents can easily happen if one doesn’t know how to do it appropriately. A non-professional trying to remove a tree or a stump is very likely to damage the property and harm himself/ herself.

For that reason, hiring a professional tree service company is essential. TPS Tree Lopping has highly trained staff that will ensure superb work and result. They will do the work quickly and without any complications thanks to the experience and equipment they have, regardless of how big the tree or stump is.

Stump Removal Methods

There are several methods for removing stumps from which the professional might choose depending on the state and type of the stump. Still, the most commonly used is stump grinding which is the most efficient and effective. Stump grinding also ensures that pests don’t have a ready habitat in which to nest and doesn’t leave a hole in the ground.

The tree company you hire will use a professional stump grinder and remove the entire stump from the ground. This high-tech machine must be operated by a trained professional, which is yet another reason why you shouldn’t do it yourself.

The stump grinder machine runs on petrol and has two main parts, hydraulically controlled arm and a cutting wheel with extremely sharp steel teeth at the end of the arm. The wheel spins at a remarkably high speed which enables cutting through and grinding the tree stump into tiny particles.

The second is the backhoe method which means that the company will simply use a backhoe, a mechanical excavator, machine to dig the stump out of the ground which will leave a huge and deep hole. This just isn’t aesthetically nice and will affect your entire landscaping. So, obviously, the best choice is stump grinding.

 

Tree Lopping Vs Tree Pruning – Understand the Differences

People always tend to confuse the terms ‘tree lopping’ and ‘tree pruning’. Though both the terms are associated with tree trimming, they have a thin line of difference between them. Tree lopping is basically the trimming of branches of trees in order to reduce the tree size. On the other hand, pruning is associated with tree health. It can help in providing immunity to the trees against certain diseases and can ensure a long and healthy life. So here are a few differences between them:


Tools and Equipment:

The tools and equipment used for pruning and lopping are different. Both these methods include cutting and trimming of trees, but the difference lies in the types of tools used for doing the same. Tree pruning is done making use of lopping and hand sheers which have the ability of cutting thick stems, whereas gas-powered clippers, manual sheers, and electric sheers are used for performing a tree lopping task.


The Difference in Timetable:

Tree pruning and Brisbane tree lopping also differ on the basis of season and species. In most of the cases, annual pruning is required for trees and shrubs, whereas tree lopping can be done twice a year to maintain the aesthetics of the backyards. If you want to boost the capacity of flowering plants and wish to see flowers blooming in your garden, then you should go for pruning the shrubs after every blooming cycle. Whereas tree lopping can be considered when the trees reach a certain height beyond which it shouldn’t go.

Tree lopping and pruning can elevate the aesthetics of your backyard and can also show comparable results on the plant’s health. Thus it is essential that they are taken care of by the professionals to amplify the landscape. So now since you have understood the difference between tree lopping and tree pruning, always opt for Brisbane tree lopping services to get the professionals working for the augmentation of your tree health.

How to Prepare for the Storm Season with TPS Tree Lopping

If there’s a hazardous tree on your property, it is very likely that the tree will fall down or that its branches will break off during a storm with very strong winds, like tornados, hurricanes, torrential rainfall, or thunderstorms. Most importantly though, fallen trees can pose a risk to you and your family, as well as, cause serious financial damage that can cost thousands of dollars. But, luckily for you, TPS (Trees Palms and Stump) Lopping company can help you prepare for the storm season, increasing the chances of your trees to survive, and reduce the damage risk.

How to Prepare for the Storm Season with TPS Lopping Company

First, let’s have a chat about this tree company. TPS Tree Services is a Capalaba based tree company which offers professional tree services in Brisbane and the Gold Coast. The tree services they offer include tree pruning, tree trimming, tree and stump removal, tree felling, etc. In other words, anything you can think of that includes tree care.

So, let’s see what TPS Lopping can do for you:

  1. Perform Strategic Tree Pruning

This is the key proactive step that the TPS tree company can perform before a storm season. It involves tree trimming and complete removal of certain branches and limbs if necessary. By doing so, the health and stability of the tree will improve significantly. And, performing strategic tree pruning and removing dead or damaged branches and limbs or the ones that are too close to your house can lower the risk of physical harm and property damage.

  1. Boost Tree and Soil Health

Namely, a healthy tree surrounded by healthy soil has greater chances to withstand a storm rather than an unhealthy one. But, how to tell whether your tree and soil are healthy or not? Here comes TPS Tree Company in hand. One professional tree service they offer is inspecting trees and their health which is the second proactive step they can perform. Tree loppers will check for tree diseases or invasive insects that can harm tree health. Also, they will examine the soil quality that can damage the trees root system and perform soil aeration if needed.

  1. Provide Cabling and Bracing Support

And, last but not least, the third proactive step that this tree company can take is to protect your vulnerable trees, like the young ones, by securing them with cabling and bracing. Thus, they’ll ensure that total tree loss won’t occur. Furthermore, cabling and bracing provide support and protection to the tree and reduce the risk of major cracks or splits, or even, being completely uprooted. And, providing support is crucial and essential in the case of historic or exotic trees, like palms.

Warning Signs that a Tree May Be Dangerous

You’ve learned what TPS Lopping Tree Company can do for you to prepare your trees for the storm season and prevent storm damage. So, let’s briefly go through the top four warning signs which may tell you that a tree is in danger of falling.

  • A hole in the trunk – A trunk cavity can lead to decay inside the tree which can pose danger in case of a stormy weather if there isn’t enough sound wood around the hole.
  • Missing bark – if your tree is missing part of its bark or has a gash in, it probably has a disease called canker which makes the tree more likely to break at that particular spot.
  • Falling or dead branches – This is obviously a sign of danger and means that the tree is trying to have less to feed. And, dead branches can actually fall even on a calm day.
  • Leaning trunk – A trunk that’s leaning over 15 degrees is usually a result of a strong wind or root damage and this tree has very high chances of falling down and needs to be removed.

Now that you know everything needed to prepare for the storm season, it’s time you contact the TPS Lopping tree company and actually take proactive steps to protect yourself and your family and property.

The Importance of Hiring a Professional Tree Cutting Service Provider

Many people suffer a lot of struggles because of the rapid growth of a tree’s branches or roots. It is a threat to the safety of homeowners as one may trip/hurt themselves in the yard, it may block sunlight from entering your house or it may look unfit in your prized garden. So what should one do? Well, it’s actually very easy! If you hire workers from a professional tree service you can have this troublesome tree or stump moved from your yard with ease.

Why Hire a Professional for Your Tree Services?

There are many things one must keep in mind before cutting a tree down. Since cutting a tree down is not as easy as TPS Tree Lopping make it look, you must not do it yourself. Cutting down a tree involves several complications – stumps that are hard to pull off, limbs that are protruding, and damaged branches which could fall on the person who is trying to chop it off. These factors make it evidently important to hire tree cutting services as they have all the best available tools and safety equipment necessary for any tree lopping service.

Things to Remember While Hiring a Professional

There are certain shortcomings that can be avoided while selecting your tree service provider. It begins with first understanding their insurance and safety policies. Since tree cutting services can lead to damage of your house or anyone dear to you, making sure they have good and strict policies is necessary. You should also check on their contracts – if it includes the duration of work, charges of step by step procedures, and guarantee of safety. It is also best to compare the prices and know which services are affordable, reliable, and cost-effective. This exercise can also help you understand the different professional standards and knowledge of different companies.

One should always count on a professional tree service provider for removing a tree that has been making their own yard less pleasing and peaceful. Not only can these experts mend your tree problems but handle it in a safe and well-equipped manner.

Tree Lopping and Its Multiple Benefits

Terminology can often confuse regular people, and tree owners are no different. For instance, you might often see a number of tree loppers flashing around without understanding what they do. Well, here is a starter course to understand everything about tree lopping:

Defining Tree Lopping and Tree Loppers

Tree Lopping is generally understood as the removal of large branches from the tree, by making vertical cuts. The term is often confused with pruning; however, there are some differences. While pruning is minute, lopping generally works on a larger scale.

Tree Loppers, as the name suggests, are people responsible for the lopping. They are usually not specialized but come with a long line of experience.

Benefits of Tree Lopping

Among a big list of the benefits of tree lopping, mentioned below are the three main benefits of it.

1) The Health of the Tree:

One common benefit of tree lopping is ensuring the health of the tree. Often branches get decayed and the whole tree stands at the risk of getting infected. Lopping does the same thing that amputation does to humans i.e. removing a part to stop the infection.

2) The Appearance of the Tree:

Another common reason behind tree lopping is maintaining its appearance. While we all love a symmetrical tree, real life is not perfect. Trees often tend to grow in strange directions, giving an overall leaning shape. Through lopping, tree loppers remove the branches leaning on one side, thus both giving it a better appearance and removing the excess weight that might contribute to distorting the shape further. The same logic is applied to removing stray branches that outgrow the rest of the tree.

3) Safety:

Most tree lopping Brisbane service providers suggest that safety is by far the most common reason behind tree lopping. Branches that are dead pose the threat of dropping any time, thus injuring people and/or property. For large enough trees, falling of branches can even break power lines. Even if the branches are not dead, they might break due to many other reasons like heavy rain and storm. Availing a tree lopping service would ensure that such branches are removed before they can cause any harm.

Factors That Influence the Price of Tree Removal

There could be many reasons behind removing a tree, be it disease or obstruction. While the task appears straightforward, the prices aren’t. Removing trees can cost from almost nothing to a significant amount. So that you can be prepared and understand the pricing, it is crucial to understand the factors that actually affect the price of tree removal.

 

Factors Affecting the Price of Tree Removal:

Mentioned below are the four most important factors that influence the price of tree removal service.

1.   Size:

The first and the most significant factor affecting the price of tree removal is its size. It is the height and the width of the tree that heavily impacts the efforts and the resources required to remove it. The larger the tree, the more it needs to be broken down into smaller parts.

2.   Health:

Another factor that could potentially become a critical one is the health of the tree. If a tree is dead, it is generally easier to remove it and thus costs less. However, if the tree is diseased, it poses a health risk to the tree removers, who would need protective gear and to employ additional caution processes.

3.   Location:

The location of your tree and the accessibility to it also affects the cost. For example, tree removal Brisbane companies will add the distance as a factor during a breakdown. Since the tree removal service needs to carry all their equipment and return with an additional tree, the accessibility seriously impacts the price of removing a tree.

4.   Hazards:

Lastly, sometimes tree removal services pose a certain hazard. For instance, if the tree in question is adjacent to power lines, it poses a significant risk. While any tree removal service is equipped to deal with such risks, it would generally mean more efforts and thus higher costs.

Now that you are aware of all the factors that affect the price of tree removal, you now stand at a much better position to understand whether removing the tree in your backyard will be exceptionally pricey or not.

How tree lopping equals less stress

You might not associate tree lopping with less stress and labour, but it’s certainly true. Not only will you remove the task of raking up leaf litter, but you can also remove the access pests will get to your home. Plus, there’s finally room for the fun type of gardening.

 

  • Less gutters to clean

Heavy winds, rain, and age will make leaves fall off the trees in your backyard en mass. Once a year, or God forbid twice, somebody needs to get up on the roof and clean out the gutters. This is all courtesy of the big backyard gumtree.

Gutters get clogged with leaf debris and will start to smell if they aren’t cleaned out. The same goes for your driveway gutters. Ordering an assessment and having your trees removed equals less manual labour for you through the year

 

  • No more pests

Trees are happy homes to birds and the occasional koala. But some homeowners aren’t aware that long branches also make it easier for pests to get to your house. One of them is the possum.

Cute now but…

Yes, possums are cute with their big eyes and soft fur. But they dig into roofs and make nests there. Possums normally live in the trees and higher-up areas to avoid predators. Inside a roof is the best place for them to be in terms of protection. But then you have to live through sleepless nights wondering if there is a poltergeist running around your roof making terrifying hissing noises.

 

  • Gardening made better

Seed pods from trees are dangerous if they aren’t raked before lawn mowing. You don’t need an extra chore. There’s better types of gardening to do.

When the tree lopping is done, there’s suddenly more space for the fun types of gardening. You can make a veggie patch. Create large garden boxes full of flowers. Or you can create an outdoor living area where you can enjoy the sunshine instead of feeling cold in the shade from the tree.