Tree Safety Tips to Keep the Holiday Season Safe
It’s the most magical time of the year, but also the time we tend to get a little over-excited with the tinsel, the oversized decorations, and the millions of pretty lights draped across our garden and trees. Before you hoist that giant inflatable Santa or that massive star into the branches of your favourite Poinciana or Fig tree, take a moment to consider the stress you might be unknowingly inflicting on your leafy friend.
We all love a spectacular festive display, nothing says “Merry Christmas” like a sparkly mango tree, but when it comes to attaching decorations, safety and tree health are essential to consider.
The golden rule for tree decorating is simple: Never use nails, screws, or staples.
This might sound obvious, but you’d be surprised. These holes create wounds in the tree’s bark and tissue, providing an open door for pests, fungi, and disease.
Like human skin, tree bark is a hazmat suit that protects them from all sorts of drama. A nail hole might seem small, but to a tree, it’s a serious injury that takes significant energy to compartmentalise and heal.
You’re turning a temporary display into a long-term problem that might only heal in time for you to create new, fresh wounds next year, which is no good.
Instead of hardware, use soft, non-abrasive materials like thick rope, flexible plastic ties, or even strips of cloth to secure lights and heavier ornaments. Make sure these ties have enough slack to allow for tree growth and movement. If the wire is pulled taut, especially around a growing branch, you could effectively girdle the limb, cutting off nutrient flow. This process will slowly but surely choke the branch, which is not in the Christmas spirit.
Next, let’s think about the weight of the decorations you’re hanging on your tree. We often see large, heavy decorations hanging from limbs that may already be structurally compromised, weak or simply too thin to take the weight. That bedazzled festive bow might look adorable, but if the branch it’s attached to looks dry, rotten, or has obvious cracks, you’re in for a nasty surprise.
We know how our summer storms pop up unexpectedly in December and January, turning a gentle afternoon into a surprise storm. A heavy decoration on a compromised limb is an accident waiting to happen, potentially resulting in the limb falling, damaging your roof, a fence, or worse.
Before you start decorating, take a moment to inspect your trees. Look for deadwood, branches that are visibly dry, brittle, or lack leaves. These branches should be removed by a professional arborist to keep you safe during the festive season, as they pose a year-round threat.
If you have any concerns about the stability or structural integrity of your tree before strapping on the twinkle lights, give us a call. We can spot a dodgy limb from the ground and give it a clean-up before you start decorating. A healthy, stable tree means your festive season stays merry, bright, and most importantly, safe for everyone enjoying the holidays on your property. Keep the cheer high and the risk low.
Need help or have any questions? Don’t hesitate to get in touch with Ecological Tree Services or call on 07 3520 8661.
-Alex the Arborist
