I know what you’re thinking. Are arborist services just a fancier term for tree removal? A qualified arborist is someone who’s studied tree biology, disease, risk assessment, and proper care techniques—and can prove it with actual qualifications, not just a chainsaw and a ute.

Here’s the truth: most people don’t need an arborist until they do. Then they wish they’d called one earlier.

An arborist (or arboriculturist if you want the posh term) is a trained professional who specialises in the care and management of trees. They’re not just tree removalists who showed up with tools—we’ve got actual education in:

• Tree biology and physiology – How trees grow, how they respond to pruning, what they need to thrive
• Tree identification – Species-specific care requirements, growth patterns, and common issues
• Disease and pest diagnosis – What’s killing your tree, and whether it can be saved
• Risk assessment – Which trees are dangerous, which are fine, and which need monitoring
• Australian Standards compliance – Legal requirements for tree work and protection
• Soil science – Root health, compaction issues, nutrition

Think of it this way: anyone can cut down a tree. An arborist knows whether that tree actually needs to come down, or if there’s a better solution that saves you money and keeps the tree alive.

When You Actually Need an Arborist

Most calls start with “I’ve got this tree, and I don’t know what to do with it.” Here are the situations where arborist services actually make sense:

Tree Health Assessment

Your tree looks sick, but you can’t tell if it’s dying or just having a bad season. An arborist can diagnose the problem, tell you if it’s treatable, and give you options. Sometimes it’s a simple fix. Sometimes the tree is a cactus and needs to come out before it falls on something expensive.

Pre-Purchase Property Inspections

Buying a house with big trees? It’s a smart move getting them assessed before you sign. A dodgy tree can cost you $5K-$20K to remove safely, and if it’s damaged the property, that’s your problem now. An arborist can save clients from buying properties with trees that are literal death traps.

Development and Construction Planning

Building an extension? Putting in a pool? The council might require an arborist report to ensure you’re not damaging protected trees. We give you experts who assess impact, design root protection zones, and provide the documentation the council needs to approve your plans.

Risk Assessment Reports

Insurance companies, body corporates, and councils sometimes require formal risk assessments of trees. We give you experts to evaluate structural integrity, likelihood of failure, and potential consequences. It’s paperwork, but it’s paperwork that protects you legally.

Tree Protection During Construction

Trees and construction equipment are natural enemies. Experts establish exclusion zones, install root protection, monitor tree health during works, and ensure your valuable trees survive the building process. Most trees that die during construction actually die 2-3 years later from root damage nobody noticed.

Permit Applications

Whitehorse Council requires permits for significant trees or trees in protected areas. Get connected with people who prepare the application, provide supporting documentation, and handle the bureaucracy. It’s tedious work that experts are good at, so you don’t have to be.

Expert Witness Services

Disputes with neighbours over trees? Insurance claims? Legal issues? Get provided with expert testimony and formal reports that hold up in court or with insurance companies. It’s the boring side of tree work, but someone’s got to do it.

Not every tree that looks scary is actually dangerous. And some dangerous trees look perfectly fine. That’s why risk assessment is both an art and a science.

Evaluate three key factors:

1. Likelihood of failure – How likely is this tree (or part of it) to fail? Look at structural defects, decay, root damage, lean angles, previous storm damage, and species-specific vulnerabilities.
2. Size of part – If something fails, how big is it? A small branch is annoying. A major limb or whole tree is catastrophic.
3. Target – What would it hit? A tree in an empty field has low risk. The same tree over your house, car, or where people walk has a high risk.

Risk rating isn’t about whether the tree will fail—it’s about the consequences if it does. A 50% chance of a branch falling in an empty backyard is a low risk. A 10% chance of a tree falling on a house is a high risk.

Risk ratings:

• Low: Monitor, no urgent action needed
• Moderate: Pruning or treatment recommended within 6-12 months
• High: Action needed within 1-6 months
• Extreme: Immediate action required

You shouldn’t scare people into unnecessary tree removal. But you also shouldn’t downplay genuine risks to save you money short term. You should get an honest assessment based on experience and formal training.

Sometimes trees can be saved. Sometimes they can’t. Here’s when treatment actually works:

Treatable Issues

Nutrient deficiencies – Soil testing, fertilisation, mulching, and pH correction can revive struggling trees.

Pest infestations (early stage) – Aphids, scale, borers, and other pests can often be managed with appropriate treatment before they kill the tree.

Minor disease – Fungal issues caught early might respond to treatment and improved growing conditions.

Compaction and root issues – Soil aeration, root zone protection, and proper mulching can help trees stressed by construction or foot traffic.

Drought stress – Proper watering schedules and moisture retention strategies keep trees alive through dry periods.

Non-Treatable Issues

Advanced root rot – Once significant root structure is compromised, the tree is living on borrowed time.

Internal decay – Hollow trunks or major structural decay can’t be reversed, only managed until tree removal is necessary.

Severe storm damage – Sometimes trees are so damaged that removal is safer and more cost-effective than attempting recovery.

Wrong tree, wrong place – If a tree is fundamentally unsuitable for its location (too big, wrong soil, constant conflict with structures), treatment just delays the inevitable.

Be provided with experts who tell you honestly whether treatment is worthwhile or whether you’re throwing money at a tree that’s not going to make it. Our job isn’t to sell you services you don’t need—it’s to give you accurate information so you can make informed decisions.

Different trees need different care. Here’s what is commonly deal with in Forest Hill and the eastern suburbs:

Eucalyptus Species (Gum Trees)

The backbone of Australian gardens, but they’re not low-maintenance. They drop branches (it’s normal, not always a sign of danger), grow aggressively, and can get huge. Need regular assessment for deadwood and structural issues.

Exotic Trees (Oaks, Elms, Maples)

Popular in older Forest Hill properties. Different pruning requirements than natives, more susceptible to introduced pests and diseases. Often protected by the council due to age and significance.

Fruit Trees

Everyone wants them until they realise the maintenance. Require annual pruning, pest management, and disease prevention. Keep them productive and healthy with proper care schedules.

Conifers (Pines, Cypresses)

Common boundary trees that people plant and then regret. They get massive, create dense shade, and aren’t easy to control. Often need reduction pruning or eventual removal.

Acacias (Wattles)

Fast-growing, short-lived natives. Great for quick screening, but they’re often past their prime by 10-15 years. Regular assessment prevents them from becoming hazards as they decline.

Not sure what you’ve got? That’s what an arborist is for.

Whitehorse Council (which covers Forest Hill) has specific rules about trees, and getting it wrong can cost you serious money.

Significant Tree protection: Trees with trunk circumference over 110cm at 1 metre height require permits for removal or major pruning. Even on your own property. Yes, really.

Vegetation Protection Overlays: Some Forest Hill streets and areas have additional protections. Experts check this before recommending any work that might need approval.

Native vegetation protection: State government rules on top of council rules. Native vegetation removal can trigger offset requirements—you might need to plant trees elsewhere as compensation.

Heritage overlays: Historic properties often have additional tree protection. Experts navigate the extra requirements and documentation needed.

Penalty for non-compliance: Fines start at $4,000+ for individuals, $20,000+ for companies. Plus, you might be required to plant replacement trees at your expense. And your neighbours can dob you in to the council, so discretion doesn’t always work.

We provide you with handled permit applications, prepared supporting documentation, and ensure compliance. It’s administrative work that saves you from expensive mistakes.