What tends to go wrong here, and when
Summer branch drop
The single most common surprise callout south of the river. On a hot, still afternoon, a mature limb on a healthy eucalypt fails at the union and comes down. No wind, no warning, no visible defect beforehand in a lot of cases. Lemon-scented gums are the notorious ones but marri and other big gums do it too.
You cannot eliminate the risk, but you can manage it. Long horizontal limbs extending over a driveway, patio, pool or parking area are the ones worth an inspection and often a crown reduction or selective removal before December.
The easterlies and the storm fronts
Summer easterlies dry everything out and load the canopy from one direction. Winter fronts then arrive from the other. Trees that have grown lopsided leaning away from the prevailing wind, or that have had one side pruned hard and the other left, are the ones that fail. After any significant front, walk the block and look for hanging limbs, fresh splits in unions and lifted soil at the base of a trunk.
Bushfire fuel in the hills fringe
If the property is on or near the Darling Scarp — Kalamunda, the upper parts of Armadale and Gosnells — the council issues an annual firebreak and fuel hazard reduction notice, and compliance is not optional. Canopy separation from the roofline, removal of dead standing timber and litter control around structures are the parts that involve tree work.
The regulatory bit, briefly
Western Australia has no statewide tree preservation order. That surprises people who have moved from the eastern states, where a permit is often required to prune anything substantial. Here it is council by council, and many Perth councils regulate private trees lightly or not at all.
That said: the City of Melville and the City of Fremantle both maintain significant tree registers, subdivision conditions and covenants catch some newer estates, and every street tree on the verge is council property no matter which local government you are in. The service areas page lists the council for each suburb we cover.
Working in sand
Perth's Swan Coastal Plain sand changes the economics of ground work. Stump grinding is quick and clean, and full root-plate extraction is a genuine option rather than a last resort. It also means backfill settles: a ground stump hole filled with chip and sand will sink over the first winter, so top it up before you turf.
Getting advice on a specific tree
None of the above beats someone standing under the tree. Quotes and assessments are free and onsite. Call (08) 9516 2804, or read the cost guide first if the price is the question, or get in touch with photos and a suburb.
Frequently asked questions
When is the best time of year for tree work in Perth?
Late winter through early spring for most pruning and structural work, while growth is slower and the canopy is easier to read. Hazard work happens whenever the hazard appears. Deadwooding big eucalypts before the hot easterlies arrive in December is worth scheduling rather than leaving to chance.
Is it worth mulching with the chip from my own tree?
Yes, with a caveat. Fresh eucalypt chip is hot and draws nitrogen as it breaks down, so it is better on paths or stockpiled for a few months than spread straight onto a garden bed. Aged marri and jarrah chip is excellent mulch and holds moisture well in Perth sand.
Should I plant a lemon-scented gum?
Not in a suburban backyard. They are beautiful trees and they get very large, they shed limbs in still summer heat, and most of the ones causing problems in Perth today were planted by someone who had only seen a young one. On a big block, away from the house, they are fine.