Tall trees and their branches can provide welcome shade and a picturesque canopy for your garden, but branches overhanging your house can be very dangerous.

It’s a good idea to keep any trees near your home pruned and safe, especially during summer when dry conditions can make overhanging tree limbs a bushfire safety concern. Keep any trees close to your home well trimmed, and at least two metres from walls, roofs or guttering. It’s also a good idea to keep any lower branches up to two metres from the ground, to avoid grass fires from spreading up the tree. If you do have branches close to your home, it’s time to consider some tree lopping, tree cutting, or even tree removal.

It’s also advisable to plant trees singularly, and not in clumps, and try to select trees that are less flammable. When planting new trees, allow for growth, and maintain the tree so it doesn’t become a safety hazard. Make sure you prune out any dead limbs or leaves. An arborist can advise you on the best trees to plant in your garden, and how to keep your garden, and your home, safe from fir hazards.

Find an aborist to advise you on suitable trees for your garden.