Coastland Arbor Service Pty Ltd, FAQs

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Tree Maintenance Costs

Q. Will your quote be lower than everyone else’s bid?
A. Not always. We often tell people that if they want the cheapest work, then they should choose the cheapest quote. Meaning, you get what you pay for. This is perhaps more true with tree care than in many other professions. There can be an enormous difference between what one tree care company sells as proper tree pruning and what another tree company views as butchery. Unfortunately for the customer the difference is not always obvious until after the work is completed and the damage is done. Have a look at our » Choosing a Tree Company Wisely page for more tips on what to look for and, more importantly, what to look out for when choosing a tree company and/or arborist to work on your trees.

Q. Is your tree service more expensive because you are a larger company?
A. Absolutely not, being that we are a larger company this helps to keep our pricing structure competitive. As a larger company with more personnel, we can maintain different size crews. This insures that you are not paying for extra men when they are not needed on the smaller size jobs, or paying for those that may be fatigued when more men were needed. Being a larger company allows us to employ an in-house mechanic reducing our equipment & vehicle repair cost. What it all boils down to is that we must run a tight ship to stay competitive.

Q. Do I need to pay anything up front?
A. Not at all -and we urge you not to. Unfortunately, like any business there are a few rotten apples in the bunch, so when you hear a sob story of why you need to pay up front, watch out! You’re better off spending the time looking for another company or you might find yourself spending your time looking for your money.

Q. I notice you use Cherry Pickers [EWPs] - isn’t it more expensive?
A. Not at all. Since we own our EWP, it eliminates the higher per hour cost of a EWP rental that other companies must incur. The fact that our EWP operators only work with trees, provides the added benefit of greater experience, reduced setup time and a greater margin of safety. This is not always the case when a company is paying for a rented EWP on an hourly basis, for this gives the operator no incentive to ’’get the lead out’’. Our time savings reflects an increased competitive edge for us and a cost savings to you.

Tree Maintenance - General

Q. My tree is really big and we should chop all the tops off so they don’t break in a storm, right?
A. Absolutely not, this process is called topping and not only is this very bad for the health and longevity of trees, eventually it makes the structure of your tree a lot weaker and more likely to break in a storm. The size, weight or height of a tree is rarely a problem - more often it is the thickness of the crown [too many leaves and branches that don’t allow air flow through the crown] that causes trees to act like a windsock and bend too far and break during severe weather events. The proper treatment is selectively removing some of the excess growth to allow better air penetration through the crown of the tree.

Q. Does it hurt the tree if someone was to use climbing spikes when pruning my tree?
A. Most certainly! The spikes will inflict injury with every step as well as run the risk of transmitting disease through the use of the spikes. Properly trained climbing arborists can get around a tree quite efficiently without using climbing spikes, where by getting what you paid for i.e. a tree that is being cared for while pruning and not injured in the process.

Tree in the Urban Environment

Q. Is it true that the stump mulch or tree mulch will draw termites?
A. Although you might occasionally find termites in mulch, they cannot survive for they must live in an environment which is much more stable.

Q. How do I choose the right tree species for the right location?
A. Certain tree species are more tolerant and adaptable than others, but planting a tree in a location that is in close harmony with its naturally evolved tolerances helps to promote tree health and longevity. The planting locations should have characteristics and conditions similar to those where the proposed tree species has evolved genetic adaptations for those specific conditions. Some of these natural adaptations would be for certain soil characteristics, wet or dry conditions or for shade or sun conditions. The urban forest environment often presents conditions not found in nature, such as reflected heat, swimming pool water salts introduced into the root zones and roots and so on. Certain trees have been found to be more tolerant of the urban environment than others.

Tree Health

Q. How can I tell if my tree[s] need help?
A. Unusual changes in any tree’s appearance can be an indication of problems. If you notice limbs and/or branches breaking, leaf-drop, wilting or color changes, oozing sap, mushrooms at the base or trunk, and stature shift [leaning/tilting], a Certified Arborist should be contacted.

Q. My tree has dead branches in it, so it must be dying, right?
A. Not necessarily, trees are constantly sprouting new limbs and losing others. This is a natural process in most cases, however, excessive amounts of deadwood not only waste a lot of your trees’ energy reserves trying to repair those irreparable wounds, it can also be indicative of some other underlying problem(s).

Q. My tree is always dropping bark and a lot of limbs don’t have leaves, is there a problem?
A. Certain trees shed bark quite regularly, however, any time your tree has excessive amounts of limbs without leaves, this is usually indicative of inner decay.

Q. Someone told me my trees have bugs and I should cut them down before they spread into other healthy trees?
A. Insects are a normal part of nature, and there is hardly a tree out there that doesn’t have some type of bugs in them. However, certain insects can be very destructive to trees and should be controlled to prevent excessive damage that can lead to early death, or crown die-back. We want to save a tree whenever possible, so before you let someone convince you to cut your tree down [along with your property value], call and talk to our consulting arborist, Jeff Jakeman at Coastland Arbor Services for a realistic assessment of the situation.

Q: What should I do if I think my tree has a serious insect and/or disease problem?
A: As soon as you notice any abnormality in your tree’s appearance, you should begin a careful examination of the problem. Insects and diseases can threaten a tree’s health. By identifying the specific symptoms of damage and understanding the causes, you may be able to diagnose the problem and take appropriate actions for treatment. You should contact a tree care professional for assistance immediately.

Q. Someone told me that I shouldn’t plant grass around my trees. Why not?
A. Trees and grass are healthier when they are not forced to compete with each other. Both provide benefits to the environment, but when placed next to each other can result in problems to both species. Grass at the base of a tree is often weak and thin. The shade provided by the tree is not suitable for many types of grasses. In addition, the roots of the tree, which are closer to the surface, can disrupt the growth pattern of grasses. In return, grasses take away many nutrients and much need moisture causing trees to weaken and produce poor growth. Trees may also be damaged by lawn equipment, causing wounds that allow disease and insects a point of entry. The best approach is generally to allow a mulched area around the perimiter of the drip line of the tree. This keeps grass from competing with the tree for vital nutrients and moisture and reduces likelihood of damage to both species.

Q. Will my tree die because it was struck by lightning?
A. Not necessarily - although the exterior evidence of a lightning strike is often cause for concern. Unless the missing bark is quite extensive, the amount of damage to the root system and the invasion of opportunistic insects (borers) will be the cause for the tree’s decline. The root damage can not be determined, so we advise on taking a "wait and see" attitude for a six month period, before spending any money on the tree’s rehabilitation. When drought conditions exist during this waiting period, watering is advisable. If the tree dies within this time frame or the tree appears to be structurally unsound, we would advise on its removal. Removing trees for safety concerns, as well as preventing the spread of damaging insects, would be money well spent.

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