After much consideration it was decided that another large tree had to be removed from the yard for safety reasons. Over recent years a number of branches have fallen from this tree and there has been some damage to some of my stock trees that I have been growing on for later use as bonsai.

The tree was a Salix matsudana that goes by the common names of contorted willow or tortured willow or corkscrew willow depending on where you come from. Although the gardening books say it only gets to 12 metres with about a 4 metre wide canopy, this tree was nearly 20 metres tall with a canopy spread of more than 10 metres and the sheer size of the tree, especially when in leaf was sufficient to force all the other trees to grow away from it. Removal will not only improve the safety but will also allow the other trees to grow back into that space over the coming years.

I engaged the same contractors that I used before and again they were terrific, on time, with all the necessary equipment, very professional, efficient and cleaned up. What more could you want?

Following is the pictorial of the mornings work:-

Getting ready to start

The job begins

A short time later it is well on the way

Only the trunk stump remains

Soon to be fire wood

More fire wood

Looks like snow on the ground

The colour of the timber when being cut is bright white and the surrounding area looked like it was covered in snow. The local magpie’s were not disappointed as they looked for displaced insects from the tree felling exercise.

All in all it has made a huge difference to my yard and I look forward to putting my stock plants back into their positions.