Trees with rotted or damaged branches

Causes

Old trees

Wind damage

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Cause

Old trees

Repair

  • rotted or damaged branches that pose a safety risk should be removed as soon as practicable
  • for very large branches, branches close to buildings or power lines or on steep ground, consider using a professional arborist. Look for an appropriately trained/experienced practitioner, such as an approved contractor of the New Zealand Arboricultural Association
  • if you plan to carry out the work yourself, always let someone else know when you are working at height
  • make sure you have a strong and stable platform to work from and a sharp saw
  • with large or heavy branches, remove the branch in stages to reduce the weight before making the final cut. A common practice is to make a first cut on the underneath of the branch, slightly higher up from where the final cut is planned, to reduce the risk of splitting
  • to allow the tree to heal properly, the final cut should be close to the branch collar, (often a bump or raised area), leaving the collar intact. Do not cut flush with the trunk or too far away from the trunk
  • a clean cut in the correct location is enough to allow healing to start. Do not paint the cut surface or apply any other substance to it

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Cause

Wind damage

Repair

  • as above

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