How Perth trees respond to a reduction

The local species, one by one

Marri (Corymbia calophylla). The workhorse of Perth backyards and the source of a great deal of the reduction work south of the river. Reduces well to laterals, reshoots readily, and tolerates a sensible crown lift off a roofline. Watch for marri canker in the trunk and for heavy gumnut loads on paving and pool surrounds — seed and fruit removal is a real service request here, not an oddity.

Jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata). Dense, slow and structurally sound. Most common through the foothills at Armadale, Gosnells and Kalamunda and in older gardens on the scarp side. Because it grows slowly, a reduction lasts a long time. Because the timber is hard, the job takes longer than it looks.

Tuart (Eucalyptus gomphocephala). The coastal limestone eucalypt, from Fremantle and Cockburn down through Kwinana and Rockingham. Big, long lived and locally significant. Mature tuarts are worth pruning conservatively rather than reducing hard, and in some coastal councils they attract extra scrutiny.

Lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora). Not native to Perth and planted here in enormous numbers. Tall, smooth, beautiful and the biggest single cause of summer branch drop callouts in the metro area. Reducing the long lateral limbs over driveways and pools before December is the standard management job. Where one sits within a few metres of a house, the conversation is usually about removal instead.

WA peppermint (Agonis flexuosa). Everywhere in coastal gardens, salt tolerant, often multi-stemmed with tight co-dominant unions that split. Reduces well. Cabling is sometimes the better answer than cutting.

Norfolk Island pine, Cocos palm, olive, Cape lilac, jacaranda. The planted exotics. The conifers cannot be reduced without leaving permanent gaps; the palms are tidied, not cut back; the rest are straightforward.

Timing it around the Perth year

Late winter into early spring is the general window. Growth is slower, the structure is visible, and the tree has the whole of spring to respond before the heat.

The things to avoid: taking substantial live crown off in the middle of a hot, dry January, when the tree is already water stressed and freshly exposed bark can scorch; and leaving hazard reduction on big gums until after the easterlies have started. Hazard and storm work, of course, happens whenever it is needed.

Wind, salt and lean

Two wind regimes shape trees here. The summer easterlies come in hot and dry off the interior in the mornings; the sea breeze comes in hard from the south-west most summer afternoons. Coastal trees at Fremantle, Cockburn, Rockingham and Secret Harbour carry salt burn on the exposed side and lean away from it.

That matters when pruning, because a crown that has adapted to a consistent one-directional load is balanced for that load. Taking material off the sheltered side, or reducing only the branches overhanging a neighbour, can leave a tree less stable than before it was touched.

Before you book

The council rules are set locally — Western Australia has no statewide tree preservation order — so check the service areas page for your local government. For what the work involves and what it should and should not look like, see the tree lopping service page. For the price, the cost guide.

Call (08) 9516 2804 for a free onsite quote.