Trees By Russ

Trees By Russ Auckland Tree Care by Russ. Tree care specialist for tree removal, tree services and landscaping in Auckland’s eastern suburbs.

09/03/2020

Looking for skilled climber to join our team based in East Auckland.
Ph Russ for more details 021 2299155

Most tree problems were caused a long time ago when previous owners planted the wrong tree in the wrong location.And thi...
05/10/2019

Most tree problems were caused a long time ago when previous owners planted the wrong tree in the wrong location.

And this unwelcome Phoenix palm is another example.

Firstly, it’s much too close to the house. Big trees have big roots and this tree’s roots are damaging drains and cracking the driveway.

Secondly, the crown of a palm tree provides a wonderful home for vermin such as rats and pigeons. In fact, the home owner has taken to shooting the rats with an air rifle! (Carefully, of course.)

My team can remove any type of unwanted tree, but it’s interesting to see how often we’re being called to remove Phoenix palms.

In an earlier post, I pointed out that Phoenix palms are dangerous, accounting for half of all hand surgery in New Zealand. Many regional councils now classify the Phoenix as a pest plant.

If you have an unwelcome phoenix palm, call me and I'll give you a free quote to remove the tree.

P.S. We'll grind the stump below ground level, so the driveway can be repaired. We can do the same for you, of course.

The Washingtonia, or Mexican Fan palm, is the tallest of the palm trees. (You know, the ones you see in the pictures of ...
18/09/2019

The Washingtonia, or Mexican Fan palm, is the tallest of the palm trees. (You know, the ones you see in the pictures of Santa Monica in California!)

The trouble is, as you’ll know from reading my blog posts, the bigger the tree, the bigger the roots.

It’s pretty logical, really: a big tall tree is going to need deep, widespread roots to feed it and to keep it stable.

Yes, I know many people aren’t happy that my job is to cut down trees. And, given the choice, we’ll trim the tree if possible.

But most of the trees we have to remove are causing expensive problems for the owner. Most of the time it’s because, many years ago, somebody planted the wrong tree in the wrong location.

And that’s exactly what’s happened here!

This Washingtonia was planted too close to a retaining wall and it was only a matter of time before the roots of the tree started to push through the wall.

My team sprang into action. We safely and carefully removed the tree.

If you’ve got problems with the wrong tree in the wrong place, give me a call and I’ll come and give you my advice.

I’m often contacted about removing Phoenix Palms. They used to be very popular but these days many property owners aren’...
08/09/2019

I’m often contacted about removing Phoenix Palms. They used to be very popular but these days many property owners aren’t happy with the problems they cause.

Their size is the first problem. A phoenix will grow into a very large tree and, like most large trees, the widely-spread roots can damage paths and fences or, worse, drains and foundations.

And then there are the problems that come with the rats and pigeons who find the crown of the palm makes a very comfortable home!

The dead fronds need to be removed (yes, we can help) because they can fall off in a high wind. And they can be heavy enough to damage cars or garden sheds, when they fall.

But be careful, when you’re trimming off the fronds. The sap is highly corrosive to some metals, which will damage your tools.

And be very careful of the spikes at the inner end of the frond. They’re highly poisonous and you DON’T want to get one in your hand. In fact, a recent Radio New Zealand story revealed that Phoenix fronds are the cause of half of all hand surgery in New Zealand.

The tree shown here was a problem for a different reason. Our client had subdivided the property and the tree needed to go to make room for new construction. We also did the stump grinding.

We’re experienced at removing Phoenix Palm trees from commercial sites and private homes across Auckland. So if yours is causing you problems, just give me a call.

Late winter is the best time to prune or trim deciduous trees and shrubs, while they’re dormant. (Deciduous? The ones th...
30/08/2019

Late winter is the best time to prune or trim deciduous trees and shrubs, while they’re dormant. (Deciduous? The ones that lose their leaves in winter.)

It’s the right time because, while the sap is down, the wounds heal faster.

There’s also less risk of disease or pest infestation affecting the tree through the cuts.

We recently trimmed this tree, because it had grown so big it was blocking the sun.

Our arborist is an expert. He knows how to trim trees so, as we move into spring, they will burst into healthy growth.

That will keep it strong for years to come!

Have you got a tree that needs to be trimmed? Better get on to it as soon as possible and give me a call.

(Tip: the best time to trim evergreen trees is in mid to late summer.)

Sometimes a tree simply outgrows its location, because nobody realised how big it would become.That’s the problem this h...
15/08/2019

Sometimes a tree simply outgrows its location, because nobody realised how big it would become.

That’s the problem this homeowner faced. For one thing, the tree was starting to displace the fence.

But it was also in poor condition, because it wasn’t suited to the location. Conifers can also be prone to disease

The last thing you’d want is for it to die, then topple onto the fence (and the neighbour’s property.)

We removed the tree and ground down the stump, so the garden could be replanted.

And, as you can see, it opened up a lot more light into this corner, at this time of year.

If you've got a problem tree, call me on 021 22 99 155 and we'll talk about your options.

Shade trees are a practical way to beat summer heat. But they lose some of their charm in autumn and winter!There’s a sc...
11/03/2019

Shade trees are a practical way to beat summer heat. But they lose some of their charm in autumn and winter!

There’s a scientific reason why shade trees are so nice to have: the tree is drawing up water from the roots and, as it evaporates from the leaves, this provides a cooling effect.

Most shade trees are deciduous. This means they grow lots of leaves for shade and privacy and then lose their leaves again in autumn, so the bare branches won’t obstruct the winter sunlight.

However, the autumn leaf fall can block gutters, drains and downpipes. And winter is also the time when large trees can have branches broken by the wind.

So now is a good time to have me and my team come to give your shade trees a trim.

This week, we trimmed another large tree that’s been doing a great job of providing a nice amount of shade in the warm summer we’ve enjoyed. But it’s about to drop its autumn leaves all over this beautiful deck and pool.

My team was about halfway through the project when the photo was taken, so you can clearly see the ‘before and after’ difference.

Need shade trees trimmed? Get in touch for a quote, now.

Oak trees have a long life and they grow into a large, magnificent tree.Sometimes, the tree is too large for its locatio...
04/03/2019

Oak trees have a long life and they grow into a large, magnificent tree.

Sometimes, the tree is too large for its location and needs to be trimmed and reduced. That’s what we did, here.

This beautiful oak was encroaching on the house and the boundary fence. It was also blocking sunlight, making it difficult for the lawn to survive.

If you’re planning to trim oak trees of this size, it’s important to use a qualified arborist to ensure the tree remains healthy.

As you can see, by the time our arborist was finished, this tree was a masterpiece!

By the way, we’re fully insured for your peace of mind. Good to know when you need large, heavy, branches removed.

Need an oak (or any large tree) trimmed, or removed? Give me a call for a quote.

It was no fun for kids playing around this playhouse, when there’s a Phoenix palm with dangerous spikes right beside it....
25/02/2019

It was no fun for kids playing around this playhouse, when there’s a Phoenix palm with dangerous spikes right beside it.

The dead fronds are the danger. When they die they fall to the ground where children can be in contact with the spikes and the fungus growing at the tips.

According to the NZ Herald, a "Starship children's hospital study found that 8 per cent of the 250 foreign-body injuries treated over five years at the hospital were caused by phoenix date palm spikes. All 21 of those children required surgery and in all but one, fragments were removed."

Of course, Mum and Dad wanted the tree gone, so their young children could play in safety.

We got to work (without the kids playing there!) and removed the tree. After the tree removal we got out the stump grinder and completely removed any evidence of the palm.

Now the kids can play in safety. And it’s opened up the area, too.

Have you got a tree that’s spoiling the kids’ fun? Give me a call and we’ll remove it!

These clients weren’t sure what to do about landscaping the backyard, still untouched more than a year after moving into...
18/02/2019

These clients weren’t sure what to do about landscaping the backyard, still untouched more than a year after moving into their new home.

Luckily, they were referred to me by another of my happy clients!

We got together and talked about options and ideas for landscaping the backyard and then I drew up a plan for them to review.

After a little fine-tuning, we got the go-ahead and my team and I swung into action. The owners now have a backyard they can be proud of and they’re more than happy with the results.

As explained in my profile LINK I got my start in landscaping, before expanding into tree care and tree removal work (because almost every landscape project has tree work to be done!)

So if you need landscaping help for a new home, or a modernising upgrade to your existing yard, just get in touch.

Address

23 Newinn Crescent, East Tamaki Heights
Auckland
2016

Telephone

+64212299155

Website

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