In landmark news, the State Administrative Tribunal has upheld the Town of Bassendean's decision to protect a regulated tree on private property – a first for local government in WA and a major milestone for urban canopy protection. The decision sends a powerful message that mature trees matter and that thoughtful development and tree retention can go hand in hand. ArbWest President Dave Crispin welcomed the ruling."This is a significant moment for urban forestry in Western A

As Western Australia moves out of bushfire season and into the cooler, wetter months, the focus for many contractors shifts from fire mitigation to storm preparedness. The same vegetation that posed a fire risk over summer can soon become a hazard in high winds and heavy rain, with fallen limbs, blocked access tracks and unstable trees creating safety and operational challenges. For arborists, winter storms can mean long days responding to emergency call-outs, clearing access

Philip Price, RelyOn Arborists, climbers and those new to the industry will gather in the Perth Hills this March for a day dedicated to practical learning, industry connection and celebrating the importance of professional tree care. ArbWest Arbor Day 2026 will take place on Saturday 28 March at the Perth Hills Discovery Centre, bringing together arborists from across Western Australia for hands-on workshops, demonstrations and practical training designed to strengthen skills

In Western Australia, our trees work hard. From the scorching heat of Perth summers to wet winter storms, trees are essential assets in our urban and regional landscapes. They provide shade, reduce heat, support biodiversity and enhance livability — but their long-term health depends on what lies below ground. While canopy health is often the most visible indicator of a tree’s condition, the real story frequently begins underground. Why Roots Matter Root damage can cause tree

Why sustainability is changing the way arborists work. In Western Australia, summer has a way of making people notice trees. When the heat settles in and shade becomes valuable, residents suddenly become aware of which trees look healthy — and which appear messy, stressed or inconvenient. The instinct is often immediate: prune it, tidy it, fix it. But according to professional arborists, that instinct can be exactly the problem. Pruning, they say, is not cosmetic maintenance.

ArbWest strongly supports the intent and direction of the Urban Greening Strategy for Whadjuk (Perth) and Bindjareb (Peel) and welcomes its clear acknowledgement that trees and green infrastructure are essential community assets rather than optional amenities . As the peak professional arboricultural association in Western Australia, ArbWest’s long-standing advocacy position is that retention of existing tree canopy must be the starting point for any credible urban greenin

As Western Australia is experiencing another long, hot summer, tree care shifts from a seasonal consideration to a critical priority. Our soils heat quickly, moisture evaporates almost as fast as it’s applied, and even hardy native species can struggle under prolonged heat stress. Yet one of the most effective tools for supporting urban trees through summer remains surprisingly simple: mulch. Often underestimated, mulch plays a powerful role beneath the surface. It locks in p

Utility pruning sits at the intersection of arboriculture and electrical safety — a place where biology meets infrastructure, and where skilled professionals keep communities safe from outages, fires, and electrocution risks. The work is essential, yet often misunderstood. Those dramatic gaps in the canopy or the removal of entire limbs aren’t mistakes: they’re deliberate, research-backed cuts designed to guide future growth away from powerlines and reduce the need for severe

Western Australia’s arboriculture sector is facing an unexpected training bottleneck, with South Metropolitan TAFE announcing the suspension of new Arboriculture enrolments for 2026. The decision follows growing challenges in securing a suitable and sustainable site for mandatory tree-felling training—a core component of the Certificate III in Arboriculture. Under normal circumstances, apprentices completing the qualification must undertake the unit FWPFGM3212 – Fall Trees Ma