Frontier Tree Services FAQ’s

Yes, Frontier Tree Services are fully insured, with Public Liability Insurance of $20 million and Professional Indemnity Cover of up to $2 million. All our employees are covered under WorkCover

As a general guide, any tree within 3 meters of your main dwelling or within 1.5 meters of a fence or structure can be removed without council approval (Excluding strata title properties). There are some exceptions to this rule and different allowances for larger properties or those properties located within bushfire zones. Our Arborist will correctly identify your trees and confirm if an application to council is required. If your tree does require council approval, we’ll include the associated fees in our quotation. We offer a full removal service, including the lodgement and management of your application. For more information regarding protected vegetation and council applications see our helpful resources and links below.

Absolutely. Frontier Tree Services Arborists are fully qualified:
• AQF Level 5 Qualified Arborist for Consultancy & Arborist Reports; Development Site Reports to Australian Standard AS4970.
• Minimum AQF Level 3 Qualified Climbing Arborists for Pruning Works to Council Specifications and Australian Standard AS4373 (2007) Pruning of Amenity Trees.

Only an Arborist is specially trained to care for and safely remove trees. An Arborist is experienced in assessing trees. They are trained to consider both the trees growth habits and it’s surrounding area before making recommendations for tree pruning or tree removal. You can trust that your qualified Arborist will provide accurate advice and follow strict safety procedures, ensuring a safe and efficient job with minimal disturbance to your surrounding gardens and dwellings.

A tree lopper is someone who cuts trees, but holds no formal training in Arboriculture. Their understanding of tree health and how to safely work in trees is limited, and could result in damage to your trees or surrounding property. Arborists train for several years, allowing them to correctly identify and assess trees, determine pruning requirements and safely dismantle trees. For more information about loppers and Arborists have a read of our blogs

Frontier Tree Services are an approved contractor & Consultant of the QAA (Queensland Arboricultural Association).Our staff qualifications, training records and safety procedures have been audited by the QAA ensuring we meet strict professional industry guidelines. An approved member is an individual who holds general membership in the association and holds a minimum AQF L2.

Tree pruning helps keep your trees healthy. Regular pruning removes deadwood, limiting the risk of major limb or total tree failure. Pruning to AS:4373 ensures healthy and stable re-growth and canopy lifts and reductions ensure your trees don’t encroach on dwellings, paths and various structures around your home or business. Annual pruning is usually best for most trees. Palms and smaller screening trees may require more frequent cleaning or pruning, depending on the owner’s requirements.

Common law allows for a property owner to prune any tree overhanging into their property back to the boundary fence line. This style of pruning is a form of lopping and can result in rapid re-growth, creating ongoing maintenance. Avoid the need for frequent pruning by speaking with your neighbour and requesting permission to prune back to the main union points. This will maintain the trees health and reduce the frequency of pruning.

In short – No. All trees located on your nature strip remain the property of the Gold Coast City Council and can only be pruned or removed by a Gold Coast City Council contractor. To report a problem with a council tree click here for the correct application and information about their maintenance procedures.

Frontier Tree Services main stump grinder can grind to a maximum depth of 300mm. Removing a stump to this depth prevents any re-growth from the tree stump. However, surface roots can have the potential to re-sprout if not ground or poisoned. The root ball of the tree and main root system will die and slowly decompose over time. If there’s no new growth on top then typically, there’s no new growth down below.

When trees are removed, they are typically cut to ground level and an application of poison is applied to the stump. In most instances a single application is enough to start the decaying process, however various external factors such as weather and tree species make it impossible to guarantee its effectiveness. If you have a tree that is exhibiting water sprouts (small green shoots) apply a weed killer or similar type product to the new growth. You will soon see a reduction in new growth and the poison will start to take effect

Palm banding is the application of flexible bands under the crown section of a palm tree. The bands collect dead fronds that would otherwise fall to the ground. Palm fronds are held in the bands until released during periodic cleaning. If you have palms that drop fronds in high traffic pedestrian areas then this is the solution for you.

Vegetation management plans are designed for title schemed properties such as body corporates, resorts and hotels. They document specific information about the trees within the property, assess their condition and make recommendation for any necessary works. These reports are an excellent budgeting tool for committees looking to plan out their maintenance costs and are useful in gaining council approval for any protected tree removals.

An Arborist report is often required to comply with a development application lodged for a new building or significant change to your property. The report surveys the trees likely to be impacted by the proposed development and makes recommendations on how these trees are to be managed during the construction process. Depending on project requirements, our Arborist reports can be supplied as a single visit observation report or include multiple site visits and report updates as the project progresses.

Frontier Tree Services supply a neem application service. Neem is an oil that kills or repels common harmful insects and mites from tree foliage. The neem is applied through a misting machine, providing an even coverage over all foliage. Depending on the insect activity it is best to have two treatments to start, the initial application and a second within 6-8 weeks. Insect activity should be monitored following treatments and repeated approximately every six months depending on insect activity.