Jim's Trees Blog
Read tips, tricks and handy hints from New Zealand's favourite arborists. We share because we care!
OHS Compliance and Why its important to hire a certified arborist in New Zealand
What you need to know when hiring an Arborist When thinking about hiring an arborist there are a number of things that you should consider. Alongside price, locality and reputation, it is important to consider whether an arborist hires professional, qualified workers, complies with legal requirements in terms of Operational Health and Safety and has the relevant insurance to protect both you and your property. Recent law changes in New Zealand mean that when engaging a contractor to carry out work for your home or premises, it is your legal responsibility to check that they comply with OHS guidelines. In this article we will discuss how you can check that you are hiring the best arborist for you, and safeguard yourself by being informed about your legal requirements when hiring contractors. Hiring Qualified Arborists When considering hiring an arborist it is good to know that you will be getting a quality service for your money. Making sure that you hire professional arborists with the relevant qualifications will give you the peace of mind that the work will be carried out with skill, care and safety. According to The New Zealand Arboricultural Association, “A Certified Arborist (CA) is a professional who has over three years of documented and verified experience and has passed a rigorous written test from the International Society of Arboriculture.” At Jim’s trees we are proud to have professional arborists on staff who truly understand what trees need to do well, having years of experiences in providing tree care and maintenance of all kinds. All of our arborists have the necessary training to carry out their jobs...
Thinking of selling your house? Simple steps to enhance your gardens curb appeal
Thinking of selling your house? Simple steps to enhance your gardens curb appeal Are you thinking of selling your house? One of the most important factors is grabbing potential buyer’s attention is the initial appearance of your property and grounds, the or ‘curb appeal’. A good curb appeal can really catch a potential buyers eye and draw them in for a house viewing, it is an essential first stepping in finding that all important buyer for you home. As well as the immediate exterior of your property, it is important to not underestimate the effect that the appearance of a front garden and surrounding grounds has on the opinion of a buyer. A well kept front garden associates itself with a well kept house. There are a number of initial, do-it-yourself steps that you can take to improve the appearance of your garden. These include: Mowing your lawn Make sure bushes and hedges are trimmed Add fresh mulch to your flower beds Remove weeds or dead plants Installing lighting so your property also looks good at night Some other important tasks that are equally important but can be a bit trickier to carry out yourself include assessing whether dead or diseased trees need removing, or trying to get rid of an old tree stump that may be causing access issues. This is the time to call in a professionally trained arborist who will have the knowledge and expertise to asses if your trees can be saved or how to safely handle their removal. Below we have expanded on some common procedures that can dramatically improve the curb appeal...
Risks of DIY Tree Removal
Tree removal is harder than most imagine. It can be a minefield of risks which can potentially turn into a very costly project. Whether it is cutting down or felling a tree, it is a task that should be best left to expert arborists. However, if the tree in concern is moderately short and small, you could potentially undertake the task with proper care and equipment. Regardless of whether it’s a small tree or a monster, safety comes paramount with in every step involved and should be the prime focus of all your actions during the process. You also need absolute certainty on how to chop down the tree efficiently and effectively prior to commencing the task. If you opt to do your tree removal, here is a list of some of the critical items you must consider: Underground Hazards If your tree removal requires removing the stump and root system, you must inspect for underground cabling, sewer pipes and gas lines that could potentially be damaged. Such damages are a common result of oversight and rushing into a job without proper planning and care – often leading to very hefty repair bills, potential fines and even prosecution in extreme cases. Proximity To Buildings Clients often request trees to be removed that are too close to their home or buildings. Extra attention must be paid to remove encroaching or overhanging branches to avoid severe damage to your home (such as external heat pump vents). Small branches are often much heavier than they seem and a slight misstep can lead to damages to roofing, windows and walls. Identifying...
Tree Care and Maintenance for Winter
Tree Care and Maintenance for Winter The run up to winter is a crucial time of year to check over your trees and carry out essential tree maintenance work such as trimming, mulching and securing branches, making sure you are prepared for whatever weather that winter brings. Winter can be hard on trees but here are some steps that you can take to minimise the risk of any damage from cold winter weather. Tree-trimming and pruning The run up to winter is the best time of year to trim your trees as your trees and beginning to enter their dormant stage of growth. Trimming or pruning trees can help sustain their health over the winter months as you are removing any dead or dying branches to aid in the overall health of the tree. Tree -trimming can be a difficult task, doing it wrong can rip branches or damage bark, and for larger trees it can be a safety risk to reach the top branches. If in doubt, hiring an arborist to carry out the job for you might save you time and keep you safe. Remove branches or trees that pose a risk to your property Winter weather can be hard on your trees. Fallen trees and branches can cause damage to property, infrastructure and even a risk to life. As a resident of an area you have a responsibility to look after your trees to make sure they do not pose a risk to others. For more information, take at look at your local council’s checklist of tree owners responsibilities such has this....
Be Wary of the Door-Knocking Tree Trimmer
Police Issue Warning against Amateur Door Knocking Arborists With the series of storms hitting New Zealand over the past few weeks, there have been raising concerns over the past few weeks over amateur tree cutters door-knocking, intimidating and coercing residents and owners to user their services, often for exorbitant prices. Similar occurrences recently received media coverage around the Glen Eden and West Auckland region where elderly couples in particular were the target of such aggressive sales techniques. Police issued a warning to residents to no engage such dodgy amateurs and instead call emergency services to report. Amateur and unqualified arborists have been bad news for the tree removal and tree maintenance industry globally with thousands of nightmare stories of property damage, shady techniques and lack of professionalism. Insurance companies often also end up refusing property damage claims where unqualified arborists have been engaged, adding to the frustration of the parties involved. Like the saying goes in virtually every industry – you get what you pay for. This holds true for arborists as well. Jim’s Trees – What makes us the right choice for you Jim’s Tree and Stump Removals have been providing arboreal care to clients all over New Zealand for several years. Having accumulated tens of thousands of hours of experience, together with best in class training and equipment, we guarantee to give you the best advise at a fair price to reflect the quality of our workmanship. We provide residential and domestic tree maintenance, stump removal, tree lopping and tree trimming services throughout Auckland, Hamilton, Christchurch and Hawkes Bay on a daily basis. Jim’s Trees are also often the preferred arborists...
Reduce Risk Property Damage today with Jims Trees
Professional tree maintenance from Jim’s can not only prevent injuries related to DIY, it can also reduce the risk of storm related property damage. Call the expert tree trimming and stump removal company today.
