Nandies New Business

Andy and I have embarked on a new career in tree removal after successfully felling a ~10metre hakea tree in our back garden. I should point out here that we really liked the tree and didn't want to remove it. However it was another 'ready for reno' task.

A few months ago we had chopped off two of the smaller limbs which were overhanging the roof and had originally thought that the tree would be ok once this task was done. But no it wasn't going to work. You see the position of the tree was such that the extension would come well within the drip line and the digging would potentially damage the root system. Thus if left there would be a high chance it would die and then be impossible to take out. Plus we wouldn't be able to walk down that side of the house!

After careful consideration, we decided to start mid way up the tree cutting the heavy top branches before tackling the trunk. With the ladder fully extended we (Andy) was still not able to come close to these said branches. It would require climbing into the tree and I was champing at the bit to do so only to be reminded by Andy of the time I fell head first off the wheelie bin (while pregnant with Katy)

Anyway securely wedged high up in the tree, Andy began the job of cutting branches under my guidance and rope pulling skills to ensure the branches didn't fall into Karen and Nathan's garden and squash their water fountain. The whole job was really fun and took way less time than we anticipated which was a good thing seeing though we started at about 3pm on Sunday afternoon!

Finally the time came to fell the rather large trunk. As Andy sawed and I mannned the ropes, I began to think about the early settlers felling the huge eucalypts in the south west of WA. All was good for us with the trunk missing the house. However with darkness descending the cutting up of this rather large log would have to wait for another day (and possibly the neighbours chainsaw!) and so too was the even large stump left in the ground.

Ella loved learning how to use the saw too! Katy meanwhile was off next-door playing with Sofia.

Below is a snapshot taken in Sept 2009 of the hakea (the one behind the trampoline). 

The tree on the left is the regulated grevillea which added another 6 painful weeks to the approval process!