Old Growth Arboriculture

Trees are perfectly capable of growing without us. The ones planted around houses, footpaths and building sites are the exception: they need the right work at the right time, or they turn into an expensive hazard. The big cost in the life of a tree comes at the point it fails or has to be removed, so Old Growth Arboriculture works at the other end, on the assessment, the pruning specification and the species choice that keep that day a long way off.

I am Dr Gregory Guerin, an AQF Level 8 arborist, botanist and forest ecologist with a quarter of a century in these fields. First class honours in botany and a PhD in plant taxonomy from the University of Adelaide, a Graduate Certificate in Arboriculture from the University of Melbourne, and more than 80 papers in peer-reviewed journals on plant taxonomy, vegetation, biodiversity and forest health. I hold $20 million public liability and $5 million professional indemnity cover, a white card, a national police check and a working with children check, and I am a member of Arboriculture Australia.

The formal side covers arborist reports and tree risk assessments: preliminary reports, retention value, arboricultural impact assessments and tree protection plans for development sites under AS 4970-2009, monitoring and certification through construction, tree audits, inventories and management plans. If you are dealing with a regulated or significant tree, native vegetation, a subdivision, a demolition or a neighbour who wants something done, that is the documentation you will be asked for. It pays to get independent advice before you contract expensive works.

Getting the species right comes first, because lifespan, root behaviour and legal protection all follow from it. Desert Ash is an invasive problem species and Claret Ash is not; Swamp Sheoak sends up suckers and has invasive roots where the similar River Oak is a benefit. I can identify a tree on the spot or key it out properly where a cultivar or a look-alike needs it, backed by a database of more than 200 species commonly cultivated around greater Adelaide and years spent as an identification botanist at a state herbarium.

On the practical side, formative pruning done early guides growth away from double leaders, weak attachments and included bark, and it seals over within a season. Corrective pruning, canopy lift and clearance work around driveways, parking and buildings all keep the tree's shape and future health intact. Heavy pruning and topping look impressive for a summer and then stress the tree into masses of weakly attached regrowth. Much of this can be done low impact, without a large truck, a chipper and a crew turning up. I also handle pest and disease management and triage of storm damaged trees, working out whether the tree is still viable, what safety issues remain, and what needs doing next.

I cover the whole of greater Adelaide and travel into country South Australia for significant projects, with core areas in north-eastern Adelaide and the peri-urban Mount Lofty Ranges, working out of Tea Tree Gully. Get in touch to book an inspection, talk through a tree matter or ask for a free quote.