I've just read
Day of the Triffids for bookclub; a timely read after one of
our old native trees was uprooted in the storms that hit Brisbane late last month. Trees are not as harmless as they seem... especially when they uproot themselves and try to move around!
Anyway, our tree lopper and his team came around first thing yesterday morning to remove the not-quite-felled tree. It was a pretty big job, as the tree was taller than our house and was wedged into a mango tree. It needed to be removed before it rolled over in the next storm.
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| If you squint you can just see the hi-vis tree guy suspended on the tree. He was swinging here, there and everywhere to cut back most of the branches. Like Tarzan! |
It was an entertaining three hours for me. Before the tree was lopped I was horrified about how much it was going to cost to remove and set us back...but after watching them do their job, all the resentment had vanished.
It's definitely not a job for the DIY amateur. Each cut was carefully considered and the tree came down relatively smoothly.
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| Cutting up the trunk into manageable sizes |
The kids can run around the backyard more freely now the tree is gone. We're also going to plant more lilly pillys to fill in the gap left by the big old tree.
Did you keep any of the trunk? I just saw on instagram a side table made from a tree trump with the top painted neon (or fluoro if you're old school).
ReplyDeleteTree trump! A trump is a trunk and a stump combined. It's my new word.
ReplyDeleteAs opposed to Donald Trump. (I've had an arduous day at work and need some superficial amusement).
ReplyDeleteYou crack me up MMMC. You own that trump. xx
DeleteMy hubby was a tree lopper in his youth, heart pounding work but very satisfying to see the end result! LIllyPilly, good choice! :)
ReplyDeletePippa, your hubby must be made of the tough stuff to have been a tree lopper. Not for the faint of heart, that's for sure. x
DeleteIt's a shame you lost such a big old tree, but making more room for the kids to run is a good thing. I had to look up lilly pillys. Beautiful! Their blooms look similar to our mimosa, but mimosas don't have edible fruit.
ReplyDeleteDana, Lilly Pilly trees grow very quickly too and make a great screening fence. xx
DeleteWow-what a huge tree when you have a bit of perspective!
ReplyDeleteAs much as losing it will be a shame, it's good that you get the extra room, and hopefully it's good for the grass with a bit more light too-being optimistic!!
Thanks sweetness, yep we are all for thinking optimistically...xx
DeleteSad though it is to lose a big old tree, there is always the plus side to be found. I can definitely see why those tree guys earnt their keep - it was a big job. Love MMMC's new word - a trump!
ReplyDeleteIm amazed that these tree loppers roam door to door spruiking business in Brisbane. I would want to make sure they had valid insurance, as there are many examples of them hurting themselves on the job then suing the owners. Also in NSW you need a tree removal approval before pulling one day (obviously not one fallen in a storm).
ReplyDelete